MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Volpe looks right at home atop the Yankees’ lineup.
The rookie shortstop continued to put together quality at-bats in his 10th straight game hitting out of the leadoff spot Wednesday.
He went 2-for-4 with two walks, a double and three runs in the Yankees’ 12-6 win over the Twins at Target Field.
“I’m just overall feeling pretty comfortable,” Volpe said. “I feel like I’m seeing the ball well. Just want to put together good at-bats. As long as I feel like I’m doing that, I feel like I’m helping the team out.”
Volpe had a slow start to the season after he won the shortstop job with a torrid spring training, but he has settled into a groove of late.
Around the same time Volpe began to heat up, manager Aaron Boone moved him into the leadoff spot in place of DJ LeMahieu, whose bat was needed more in the middle of the lineup after Giancarlo Stanton hit the injured list with a strained hamstring.
Volpe has reached base multiple times in eight of his last 12 games, posting a .442 on-base percentage over that stretch.
“He’s been terrific,” Boone said. “He keeps hitting the ball hard, too. I was considering giving him a day off today too. The at-bats, especially as we go through this stretch, have just been really consistent with him. More of that today at the top.”
Tommy Kahnle, who has been out since spring training with biceps tendinitis, threw a 15-pitch bullpen session — all fastballs — on Wednesday morning at Target Field and reported feeling good.
It was his first time off the mound since he sustained the injury and an important step as he works toward a return to the Yankees, potentially by the end of May.
“He was very encouraged,” Boone said. “Tommy’s usually excited, but Tommy was excited. He’s been trending well for the last three or four weeks. This is that next step into getting him back hopefully at the end of next month.”
Kahnle is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Sunday.
A pair of hot bats at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre have Boone’s attention, though neither is currently on the 40-man roster.
Jake Bauers, a 27-year-old corner outfielder and first baseman, entered Wednesday batting .333 with nine home runs and a 1.364 OPS in 19 games.
“Oh yeah, he’s definitely caught our eye,” Boone said. “Certainly got a lot of us paying attention to that and we’ll see what happens.”
Andres Chapparo, a 23-year-old corner infielder and DH who showed some pop in spring training, had also crushed eight home runs over his last 13 games through Tuesday.
“We know he can really hit,” Boone said. “After a really slow start for him – that first week, it was a little struggle for him — he’s been banging. We know that’s who he is. It’s good to see that.”
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