'We could be the best': Jazz, Volpe impressing as new double-play combo

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The ball was hit slowly to the left side of the infield in the second inning, and while it wasn’t going to be the easiest play for shortstop Anthony Volpe, Carlos Rodón marched with confidence toward his seat in the dugout.

As Rodón expected, Volpe made the play by feeding to Jazz Chisholm Jr. , who fired a strike that doubled up the Phillies’ Rodolfo Castro. The Yankees’ new double play combination has been “joined at the hip” this spring, according to manager Aaron Boone, and the results are beginning to show.

“They’re so athletic,” Rodón said on Thursday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark, where the Yanks and Phillies played to a 7-7 tie. “You saw Jazz at third base … putting him back at second base at a position he’s comfortable with, he’s a really solid defender, a great athlete. He just makes the unbelievable plays.”

With the exception of Volpe at shortstop, the Yankees’ infield has been completely remodeled since the last game of the 2024 World Series. Boone believes this version of the club is more focused on run prevention -- especially up the middle. So does Chisholm.

“I think we could be the best shortstop-second baseman in the league, definitely defensively,” Chisholm said. “And I think we are probably going to turn the most double plays in the league, too. That would be my prediction for us.”

The Rockies led the Majors with 164 double plays turned last season, while the Angels had the American League’s most with 152 (fourth in MLB). The Yankees ranked 23rd in the Majors, with 112 twin-killings.

“It’s going to be a superlative anytime Jazz speaks,” Boone said. “But I do think they’re capable of really great things, both sides. So I like his confidence, but we’ve also got to go back it up.”

Over the offseason, Boone said he wrestled with keeping Chisholm at third base. Ultimately, the club opted to move Chisholm to a position where he has made 156 previous Major League starts; Chisholm’s 45 games at third base in 2024 (plus 14 more in the postseason) represent his only pro contests at the hot corner.

“It was close for me,” Boone said. “Depending on how the offseason shook out, I was keeping it in play with him. I don’t want to get into moving him back and forth. His athleticism in the middle of the diamond, with Anthony there, gives us an opportunity to be incredibly strong up the middle.”

So what’s it like to be in the middle infield these days? It certainly isn’t quiet. Volpe said there is “constant communication” playing alongside Chisholm, whom he described as “super excited and so athletic, with so much range.”

“He has a cannon,” Volpe said. “I think second base is really underrated; you need to have a really good arm to make those turns. His personality helps, too, just how much he wants to communicate, his imagination on plays before they happen. It’s all the tools, the all-around package.”

That’s great news for the Yankees’ pitching staff; after general manager Brian Cashman opined earlier this spring that the club’s defense had been “bad” in 2024, the reviews figure to be much more positive during the coming season.

“A ball on the ground around one of those two guys, it’s going to be gobbled up,” Rodón said.

Glove story

Rodón’s final offering of a 57-pitch effort fell for a run-scoring double, as left fielder Jasson Domínguez was unable to flag Edmundo Sosa’s third-inning drive near the wall.

“It’s about as tough a play as you’re going to have,” Boone said. “I guess it’s a story, every one that J.D. has, but that one is top-spin over your head, bullet, tough play. We’ll look at it. We’ve still got work to do, obviously.”

The Yankees have said Domínguez will have a full spring to continue working in left field. Rodón said he believes Domínguez “has all the tools to become an elite defender.”

“Now, I think that’s something that could take time,” Rodón continued. “Left field is not exactly the easiest position to play to be an elite outfielder. It takes work. I have the utmost confidence in that kid because he puts in the work.”

Captain’s log

Aaron Judge is scheduled to play in his first game of the spring on Saturday, when the Yankees host the Astros in a 1:05 p.m. ET contest airing on MLB.TV.

Boone said Judge’s schedule was crafted with a nod to his workload last season; he played a career-high 158 games, plus 14 more in the postseason.

“I said, ‘Whatever you’ve got lined up,’ just as long as that last week I’m playing almost every day, getting a couple of at-bats,” Judge said.

Additionally, Boone said infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to play in his first spring game shortly, either on Saturday against the Astros or Monday against the Pirates.

Injury report

Scott Effross is expected to miss several weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring, two days after the right-hander exited a Grapefruit League appearance against the Twins after tossing just one pitch.

Effross was scheduled to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection on Thursday, Boone said. He missed most of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“I think he’s pretty bummed about it, just with all that he’s done to get back,” Boone said. “It’s a hamstring, so we’ll get through it. He should be able to keep his arm going to some degree and hopefully, over the long haul, it won’t trip him up too much.”

Boone said infielder Jorbit Vivas has had difficulty throwing due to a sore right shoulder, but is getting close to game action. Vivas has been mentioned as a contender for the starting third base job, alongside LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza.