Volpe's Only There Because The Yankees Put Him There

I’ve never liked the way the Yankees have treated Oswald Peraza. There, I said it. And honestly, my frustration goes back to the shortstop competition in 2022.

The Yankees had already decided that Anthony Volpe was their guy. He was their first-round draft pick, the golden prospect, the one they wanted to build around. But plenty of people—myself included—believed Peraza was the better choice. He spent most of 2022 tearing it up in Triple-A, earning a September call-up, where he immediately made an impact. In 18 games, he hit .306 and showed he belonged. When the Yankees finally lost faith in Isiah Kiner-Falefa during the playoffs, Peraza even started Game 2 of the ALCS in Houston. That should have been his moment, the beginning of his time as the Yankees’ everyday shortstop.

But by the time spring training rolled around in 2023, the Yankees were fully committed to Volpe. They marketed him as the future, pushed his name at every turn, and did everything possible to make him the Opening Day shortstop—even though he had no big-league experience and had only played 22 games in Triple-A. Making that kind of jump is a huge leap, even for the most talented players. Meanwhile, Peraza had more experience, more polish, and more reason to be considered. Yet, the Yankees never truly gave him a shot.

Peraza later told NJ Advance Media, “In my mind, I was the best shortstop we had.”

That wasn’t just confidence—it was reality. And yet, Volpe had the better spring at the plate, batting .309 across 19 games. Peraza, meanwhile, struggled offensively, hitting just .190. That was all the Yankees needed to see. Volpe won the job, and Peraza was sent down.

These days Peraza finds himself in a tough spot. He’s out of minor league options, meaning he either makes the Yankees’ major league roster or gets placed on waivers, where any other team could claim him.

“It’s a little different [with] no options,” Peraza said. “Working hard every day. I’m waiting for the news. My goal is to make the team. I love New York. I want to play for New York.”

And yet, I have to wonder—will the Yankees actually give him a fair chance? Or have they already made up their minds? Because if there’s one thing we’ve seen time and time again, it’s that the Yankees don’t always think long-term. They’re reactive, not proactive. Just look at their current situation. Gerrit Cole is undergoing surgery, and now they’re scrambling to figure out how to replace him. They weren’t prepared. They didn’t have a plan. And when it comes to roster decisions, that short-sighted approach keeps showing up.

Take Volpe this spring. So far, his stats don’t exactly scream “ready for another leap.” Through Wednesday, he was just 5-for-28 with 10 strikeouts. But don’t worry—Aaron Boone, the guy with zero championships, still insists: “I feel like he’s ready to make another jump offensively. I really feel like that’s coming.” Right… Right, and it’s right in front of us also, right Boone?

This is exactly the problem. The Yankees don’t always let competition play out naturally. They pick their favorites and run with them. It’s predetermined. Volpe was always going to get the job, and Peraza? He’s just been stuck in limbo, spinning his wheels, trying to earn a role that the Yankees likely never intended to give him.

It reminds me of those travel baseball teams in small towns, where the roster is already decided based on local politics and friendships rather than actual talent. Volpe isn’t necessarily a better player than Peraza—but his story is. And that’s what the Yankees care about. Volpe has the fresh-faced, marketable appeal. Peraza? He doesn’t fit their narrative as neatly.

But if we’re talking strictly about on-field performance, Peraza has handled the strike zone well this spring. He’s walked four times, struck out five times in 28 plate appearances, and picked up five singles and a double for a .649 OPS. Not elite numbers, but neither he nor Oswaldo Cabrera (.726 OPS) has completely run away with a roster spot.

Opening day is coming up, Peraza still has a chance to prove himself. And I hope the Yankees finally open their eyes and give him a real shot. He deserves to be on this team, whether at third base, second base, or in a utility role. He belongs in the majors. It’s that simple.