Yankees' Aaron Boone Facing Backlash for Anthony Volpe Decision

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has reopened a shortstop debate that much of the fan base considered settled.

Boone will start Anthony Volpe at shortstop with Jose Caballero on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The Yankees entered the day tied for first place with the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

Caballero, acquired from Tampa Bay at the 2025 trade deadline, took over the shortstop position while Volpe recovered from October shoulder surgery. When Volpe finished his rehab assignment, instead of returning to the starting lineup, he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 3, keeping Caballero's bat in the lineup. Volpe returned on May 13 only after Caballero fractured a finger.

Volpe enters Tuesday's game hitting .203/.319/.305 with one home run and eight RBIs in 18 games. In his last 10 games, Volpe is hitting .194 with one home run and five RBIs.

Caballero is hitting .253/.311/.388 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 55 games this season. In his last 10 games, Caballero is hitting .226 with one home run and two RBIs.

"Everyone can't start every day," Boone said.

Aaron Boone tells us Anthony Volpe will start at shortstop tonight with Jose Caballero on the bench pic.twitter.com/7sWB5Hpqfs

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 9, 2026

Fans took their frustrations to X.

One fan said, "I'm sorry as I like Volpe, but he seems to be overmatched in the major leagues. He has to be a trade-throw-in at or before the deadline. Perhaps they're trying to up his value but as the song goes, nothing plus nothing is nothing."

Another said, "There's absolutely no reason to play him over Cabby. Boone literally said Cabby was the starting SS once he got back, when did he lose the job?"

"Volpe vs righties .523 ops Cabby vs righties .689 ops Boone: Let's start the guy with the lower one by 166 points!" said another.

If Volpe's bat stays cold, the noise only grows louder; a strong run would quiet a fan base that has questioned the Yankees' loyalty to him for years.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 1:17 PM.