Jul 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) throws a runner out at first base in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, who has never met a microphone he does not like, unnecessarily landed shortstop Anthony Volpe in hot water earlier this week.
The veteran play-by-play man reported on his ESPN radio show on Tuesday that Volpe refused to play second base during his minor-league rehab assignment earlier this season while working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.
Volpe angrily denied that report on Wednesday.
“It definitely caught me off guard,” Volpe said. “It’s confusing because it’s just not true. It couldn’t be further from the truth. From my perspective, that’s been very clearly communicated to [manager Aaron Boone] and the team. I think it’s just kind of BS, honestly. I hope my teammates in here — I’ve played for them for three-plus years — I hope they know my character and that I’d literally do anything to help the team win. Literally anything. I think the narrative and what it tries to say about me, I feel like I am defending myself over something that literally didn’t happen.”
Kay also backtracked on Wednesday, saying that he had heard these “rumors” from “two people.”
“I was wrong… Somebody called me and said that’s not right,” Kay continued. “I made further calls, and they said no, that he had never refused to play second base. I retracted. I plan to talk to him and apologize. I feel bad. I wouldn’t want to put him in the crosshairs.”
But that is exactly what Kay did, and for a player who does not need any additional help to draw the ire of Yankees fans. Volpe, once believed to be the future of the franchise at shortstop, owns a career .224 average and .662 OPS in 514 games across four different seasons with the Yankees.
The team had initial plans to play Volpe at second base during his rehab assignment and then during a later stint in May, but an injury to Jose Caballero opened the door for the 25-year-old to get back to the majors and to stay at his natural position.
“I’d literally do whatever the team needed, and that’s the truth behind the story,” Volpe said. “That’s why the fact that’s what was said catches me off guard, because there literally was zero of that.”
For more on Anthony Volpe and the Yankees, visit AMNY.com
