Michael Kay, a longtime New York Yankees play-by-play broadcaster for the Yes Network, walked back what he said earlier this week about embattled infielder Anthony Volpe on his ESPN New York radio show, a report Volpe characterized as “just kind of BS.”
On Tuesday, Kay said on the program that he had been told by anonymous sources that Volpe refused to play second base while in the minors this year, with Kay most notably relaying that he heard Volpe said to the team, “No, I’m a shortstop.”
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On Wednesday, Kay put out a post on X, debunking the “rumor” he spoke of. While on air that afternoon, Kay also recanted his head-turning statement from the day prior, according to The Athletic.
“I had two people tell me, and I heard rumors,” Kay explained to reporters at Tropicana Field on Wednesday amid the Yankees’ four-game road series versus the Tampa Bay Rays, per The Athletic. “I was wrong.
“Somebody called me [on Wednesday] and said that’s not right. I made further calls, and they said no, that he had never refused to play second base. I retracted. I plan to talk to him and apologize. I feel bad. I wouldn’t want to put him in the crosshairs.”
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Volpe noted that he was “definitely caught off guard” when he heard of the report on Tuesday, per MLB.com. Not only was it not true, Volpe said, but he described how it was antithetical to his approach. He recounted a conversation he had with Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the 2026 campaign, telling reporters that he voiced his willingness to play anywhere on the field, even catcher.
“I hope my teammates in here — I’ve played for them for three-plus years — I hope they know my character and that I’d literally do anything to help the team win. Literally anything,” Volpe said, according to The Athletic. “I think the narrative and what it tries to say about me — I feel like I am defending myself over something that literally didn’t happen.”
Volpe is in his fourth season with the Yankees, who drafted him in the first round in 2019. He was a New Jersey high school star and made his big-league debut on Opening Day in 2023. Now 25, Volpe faces plenty of scrutiny from a fan base growing impatient with his limited production at the plate. Although he immediately won a Gold Glove, he hasn’t met the offensive expectations he entered the majors with, posting a career .224 batting average through 514 games.
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The Yankees optioned Volpe to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in May following his 20-day rehab window, during which he worked his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. New York opted to stick with José Caballero at shortstop. Soon after, though, the team recalled Volpe and placed Caballero on the 10-day injured list with a middle finger fracture on his right hand.
Caballero eventually returned to the lineup; however, the injury-riddled Yankees have made the most of his versatility, with Volpe shouldering most of the workload at short instead. Volpe has still yet to play a MLB game at any position but shortstop. That said, right before he was optioned, he was informed that he’d play some second base in the minors, as reported by The Athletic. Volpe maintained that the change of plans in that moment didn’t alter his demeanor.
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“I want to be here, and I want to help the team win the World Series,” Volpe said, per MLB.com. “That’s literally all I want.”
For now, Boone is sticking with Volpe at shortstop, where he’s bounced back defensively this season.
“He handles things incredibly well,” Boone said, via The Athletic. “I don’t think he’s affected by the different things that can be said on social. He’s just a gamer. He’s a tough kid that loves the game and plays his butt off every single day. I wish that was celebrated.”
