Anthony Volpe began a rehab assignment Tuesday and did so with an immediate test against a fellow big leaguer: Phillies ace Zack Wheeler.
Of course, the results and matchups of Volpe’s rehab games are not as important as building up his workload as he finishes his comeback from October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but facing Wheeler — who made another rehab start as he recovers from surgeries for a blood clot and thoracic outlet syndrome — offered little room for easing back into the batter’s box in his first game with Double-A Somerset.
“I feel amazing,” Volpe said after going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts while playing five innings in the field. “It’s a big milestone, big checkpoint. Felt good to get back out there.”
The Yankees shortstop is expected to play in four games with Double-A Somerset this week, including a potential back-to-back Thursday and Friday, before likely moving to a different affiliate that is playing at home next week to continue upping his stamina.
General manager Brian Cashman said Friday the target was for Volpe to accrue around 55 at-bats — simulating the typical spring training workload — though the Yankees could also include at-bats from live batting practice and those taken off the Trajekt pitching machine in that tally.
Aaron Boone said the Yankees sending Jake Bird to Triple-A after Monday’s game had more to do with needing a fresh arm than anything in particular they wanted the reliever to work on at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The club called up Yerry De los Santos for the day on Tuesday to take the open spot in the bullpen after Bird gave up three runs in an inning Monday.
De los Santos’ stay was brief, as he was optioned right back to Triple-A after giving up one run in two innings and throwing 44 pitches in a 7-1 loss to the Angels.
“Obviously, Birdie had a tough one [Monday] night, but in a lot of winning games, Jake Bird’s played a big role with some big innings, some big outs,” Boone said. “So I feel like that’s still very much in there and he’ll be an option as his 15 days comes up or a need arises. But more the needing of some coverage.”
Last season, after the Yankees acquired Bird at the trade deadline, they demoted him to Triple-A following three games, and he never got back up the rest of the year.
This time around figures to be different, especially as they still try to figure out who they can trust at the back end of the bullpen.
Ben Rice was not the only regular out of the lineup Tuesday against Angels lefty Reid Detmers — fellow left-handed bats Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger were as well.
Rice entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the Yankees’ only run.
Amed Rosario started for Chisholm at second while Randal Grichuk started in left field for Bellinger (with Trent Grisham getting his first start against a lefty this season).
“Just feel like Jazz is one of those guys that’s kind of been grinding and scuffling a little bit to start the season,” Boone said. “With [Ryan] Weathers going and [a] right-handed lineup, like the pull-side defense [at third base] with [Ryan McMahon]. … Belli, I just felt like the last few days he’s been grinding a little bit too, and a guy that’s played every inning of every game so far. So just wanted to be mindful as we’re in our first long stretch, probably not the worst thing to have him start down today.”
