It’s been a season of streaks for the New York Yankees.
The team won its first five games of the year and resided in first place for 93 days of the first half.
Then came July, when the Bombers began the month dropping six of their first seven, and in the process fell behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.
Like his team, Gold Glove shortstop Anthony Volpe has also had a roller coaster campaign.
The New Jersey native started hot (.382 average in first 15 games), went cold for a while, and has re-discovered his stroke lately, posting a .903 OPS in his last 13 games.
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“Through the good, the bad, the ugly, I’m very fortunate to have felt like I’ve learned a lot,” Volpe told USA TODAY Sports. “I made some adjustments and it’s helped me put myself in better positions.”
Now, the local kid and fan favorite is excited about the stretch run, hopefully ending with the club’s 28th title.
“That’s our goal,” said Volpe. “When you look into our clubhouse – you look to the left and the right, we got some really, really good players. I think we showed it and we are going to work to keep proving that we are a team capable of doing special things. That’s why we play for the New York Yankees.”
That enthusiasm is shared by one of the organization’s icons, Mariano Rivera, who recently told USA TODAY Sports he thinks the Yankees “have everything to be a contender for the World Series. My hope is that they do because they have the players.”
One of those talented players is free agent-to-be Juan Soto, who Volpe and his teammates are hoping will stay with the Yankees for the long term.
Asked if he and his teammates will be lobbying Soto, Volpe laughed and said, “Yeah, definitely. We’re going to get it all in and we’ll do our best pitch.”
While the future will be brighter with Soto signed up for the long term, the focus remains on chasing a title this season. That goal has recently gotten a huge jolt from the addition of Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was acquired from the Marlins before the deadline.
“I think Jazz just injected so much energy into the clubhouse,” said Volpe. “I think he could be one of the best third basemen in MLB.”
The Yankees now confront the final two months of the season with the same mission they seem to be on – winning it all.
“We’re working every day, we’re staying in the moment, and we’re trying to play every game like it’s our last,” said Volpe. “I think we have the utmost confidence.”