Yankees Updates: Volpe’s Rehab Progress and Cole’s Return to the Mound

In a significant development for the New York Yankees, shortstop Anthony Volpe made his long-awaited return to competitive baseball for the first time since the 2025 postseason. Volpe took the field with the Double-A Somerset Patriots as he embarks on his rehab assignment following offseason labrum surgery. “I felt great,” Volpe remarked, emphasizing the importance of this milestone in his recovery journey.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone outlined the next steps for Volpe, stating that he will continue to participate in minor league games until at least next week. After a rest day on Wednesday, Volpe is set to play five-plus innings on Thursday and Friday, followed by another day off on Saturday, before returning to the field on Sunday. Boone mentioned that after a scheduled off day on Monday, Volpe will likely head to Scranton to further his rehab. “Probably four or five games next week, then we’ll kind of evaluate and see where we’re at from there,” Boone explained.

In a postgame update following the Yankees’ thrilling victory on Wednesday, Boone revealed that ace Gerrit Cole will join Volpe on the rehab path in Somerset. This marks Cole’s first professional start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2025. While there’s still a long way to go in his recovery, this represents a crucial step in his return to the big leagues.

In roster news, the Yankees announced the promotion of Angel Chivilli to the bullpen on Wednesday, following the reassignment of Yerry De Los Santos to Triple-A. Chivilli has been impressive, pitching 8.1 perfect innings with Scranton after struggling in spring training. Boone expressed optimism about Chivilli’s potential, stating, “We think there’s more room there for his secondary to become really good pitches for him. If he can control counts, he’s got some swing and miss with his secondary stuff. The fastball is big. He’ll be in the mid-to-upper-90s with his fastball, but he needs his secondary.”

Meanwhile, the Yankees seem to be placing a renewed emphasis on bunting techniques within their organization. During batting practice on Tuesday, notable players including José Caballero, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Trent Grisham, and Ryan McMahon practiced laying down bunts against a pitching machine. This strategic focus may signal a shift in their approach for the 2026 season, as evidenced by Austin Wells successfully reaching base with a bunt on Wednesday.

On another note, Ben Rice continues to make waves in the league, showcasing an impressive 70 percent hard-hit rate. Baseball analyst Dan Szymborski noted Rice’s significant impact, stating, “If you’re a fan of another team in the AL East, as I am (Baltimore Orioles), you’ve probably been waiting for Rice to come crashing back to Earth. Given how he’s hit in 2026, however, I fear we’ll have to pin our collective hopes on other sources of Yankees misfortune. Ben Rice’s power is real and it is spectacular.”

Finally, a heartfelt tribute was made to Rachel Robinson, the widow of baseball icon Jackie Robinson, highlighting her enduring legacy. This touching article shares stories of their love and how she supported him during challenging times, with a reminder of her pivotal role in breaking baseball’s color barrier.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.