First came a pop, then came a day off.
But the Yankees are hoping the injured list does not come next for Anthony Volpe, who woke up Sunday with a “sore” and “cranky” left shoulder after hurting it on a dive Saturday but got what Aaron Boone described as “good news” in an MRI exam and X-rays.
“He’s sore today, but feel like we’re probably in a good spot,” Boone said Sunday morning, before a 7-5 loss to the Rays. “We’ll see. Kind of day to day right now. … Strength and everything’s real good though.
“So I would say overall, encouraging news.”
Volpe took dry swings in the training room before Sunday’s game and was essentially available in an emergency, with the Yankees not wanting him to try hitting unless they got into a pinch where he had to.
Boone said he might have used the shortstop for defense or running if they had taken a late lead, but instead their comeback fell short.
“We were pretty disciplined to wanting to stay away from him today,” Boone said.
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Boone indicated that Volpe playing on Monday against the Padres is possible.
“I would say it’s realistic; I don’t know yet if it’s a yes or a no,” Boone said. “But I think it’s in play and we’ll talk about it. I think in Anthony’s mind, it’s a yes.”
In the meantime, Oswald Peraza replaced Volpe in the lineup at shortstop for Sunday’s series finale against the Rays and went 1-for-3 with a walk and an error in the field.
The durable Volpe had started all 33 Yankees games this season before Sunday, 158 of 162 games last season and 150 in his rookie campaign in 2023.
That made him staying down in pain Saturday worrisome for the Yankees after his diving attempt on a ball, when Volpe said he heard a pop.
But subsequent tests did not reveal any serious damage — though there was some “older stuff,” Boone said — which provided some relief to all involved.
“Hopefully, we’re good,” Boone said, “but we certainly want to see how today unfolds and how the next couple days are.”