January 2, 2025

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe posted an uneven season for fantasy managers in 2024, hitting .243/.293/.364 with 12 HR and 28 SB over 689 PAs. He went 28-for-35 on SB attempts for an 80% success rate, meaning he should continue to steal in 2025. He also shortened his swing, cutting his K% from 27.8% in 2023 to 22.6% last year and his SwStr% from 12.5% to 9.9%. However, the new swing sapped his power by every metric. The 24-year-old's HR/FB fell from 15.2% to 8.8%, his average airborne exit velocity declined from 93.6 mph to 91.6, and his rate of Brls/BBE went from 9% to 3.9%. A lucky .303 BABIP (.259 in 2023) made his overall batting lines look similar, but Volpe was a much worse hitter last season. On the bright side, Volpe had a torrid postseason and saw his BB% increase from 6.1% in the regular season to 16.9% in the playoffs while posting a .407 OBP and 136 wRC+. Volpe is projected to hit at the top of the order for the Bronx Bombers, but he'll need to produce to keep that role. Volpe has upside at his current NFBC ADP of 140, and ATC is projecting him to slash .237/.299/.380 with 14 home runs, 77 runs, and 26 stolen bases across 613 plate appearances in 2025. If everything goes right, there is 20/20 potential for Volpe at an inexpensive price tag during the middle rounds of upcoming 2025 fantasy baseball drafts.--Rick Lucks - RotoBaller