In the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball, where every at-bat and defensive play is scrutinized, New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe has found himself under fire. Critics, including former Yankee great Alex Rodriguez, have taken aim at the 24-year-old’s 2025 season, pointing to his .214/.286/.400 slash line, a .686 OPS, and a league-leading 13 errors at shortstop. But Sean Casey, Volpe’s former hitting coach and a 12-year MLB veteran, isn’t here for the naysayers. On his podcast, The Mayor’s Office, Casey delivered a passionate defense of the young shortstop, arguing that Volpe’s struggles are just part of his journey—and that his best days are still ahead.
Volpe, now in his third MLB season, has faced relentless criticism for his offensive and defensive inconsistencies. Dropped to ninth in the Yankees’ lineup this week, the shortstop has been a lightning rod for debate. Alex Rodriguez recently weighed in on The Michael Kay Show, suggesting Volpe trade his power numbers for a .280 batting average, 10-12 home runs, 65-75 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, and elite defense. “That is a formula to win,” Rodriguez declared, implying Volpe’s current approach falls short of championship-caliber baseball.
Casey, who coached Volpe during the second half of his 2023 rookie season, sees things differently. “Not everybody is A-Rod, not everybody is [Derek] Jeter,” Casey said, dismissing comparisons to Yankee legends. “Anthony Volpe is going to be just fine. Nobody works harder than he does. He’s in the cages all the time, has a great routine, he knows what he’s doing.”
While Volpe’s .214 batting average and .176 clip against breaking pitches (per Baseball Savant) leave much to be desired, Casey points to his power production as a silver lining. With 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in 2025, Volpe is on pace for 18 homers and 85 RBIs—numbers that rival his rookie year output of 21 homers and 60 RBIs. Casey highlighted Volpe’s standout performance against the Atlanta Braves, where he crushed two home runs in a single game, as evidence of his potential.
Breaking down Volpe’s mechanics, Casey noted, “He was really flat. Sometimes he loads on his legs, and when he loads, he loads down. When you load down, you have nothing to do but come up. What are these guys in the big leagues trying to do? They’re trying to hit upper rail. So if I’m loading down, I’m coming up and out. As opposed to staying into that hip.” For Casey, these fixable flaws are part of Volpe’s growth, not a death knell for his career.
Addressing Rodriguez’s call for a batting average-focused approach, Casey pushed back hard. “Isn’t the job in baseball to score more runs than the other team? You want guys that drive in runs,” he said. Volpe’s 54 RBIs, with half a season left to play, speak to his ability to deliver in clutch moments, even if his batting average doesn’t dazzle.
Volpe’s defense, once a strength, has also drawn criticism. After winning a Gold Glove in 2023, his 13 errors in 2025, including a costly miscue in a recent loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, have raised eyebrows. Yet Casey remains unfazed, confident that Volpe’s work ethic and fundamentals will see him return to form. “I’m going to take a shortstop with 54 RBIs, on pace for 18 to 20 homers, and who’s going to play Gold Glove shortstop,” Casey said. “That’s a player you build around.”
Casey’s defense of Volpe isn’t about denying his struggles but about putting them in perspective. At 24, Volpe is still developing, and expecting him to emulate Jeter or Rodriguez is unfair. “I think Volpe’s going to get hot,” Casey predicted, emphasizing the shortstop’s relentless work ethic and potential for a breakout second half.
For Yankee fans and baseball purists alike, Casey’s message is clear: Anthony Volpe doesn’t need to be a superstar to be valuable. His power, hustle, and defensive upside make him a cornerstone for the Yankees’ future. As Casey put it, “Volpe isn’t A-Rod or Jeter—and that’s okay. He’s Anthony Volpe, and he’s going to be just fine.”