Anthony Volpe’s dream has come true.
The New York Yankees officially made the rookie shortstop a part of their Opening Day roster on Sunday. The team posted a video of manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman breaking the news to Volpe. Boone got very serious with Volpe before telling him the good news.
«This is a tough conversation I have to have because you came in and played your ass off,» Boone said. «We talked early on about this being a competition, and you killed it. But at the end of the day, you’re 20-something games in Triple-A.»
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 6, 2023 in Tampa , fl. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
«There’s always room for development, but in the end, I think development should happen in the big leagues. Welcome to New York.»
Steely glances turned to smiles as Boone shook Volpe’s hand.
«You earned it,» Boone said.
Volpe tried to put his emotions into words when he spoke to the media after the announcement. He said he was «very excited» to be a part of the 2023 Opening Day roster.
THE YANKEES STARTER, OFTEN INJURED, WILL COME ON THE DISABLED LIST AGAIN WITH THE SAME INJURY HE SUFFERED TWICE BEFORE
«My heart was pounding, but I don’t know, I don’t really have a lot of words right now,» Volpe told reporters.
New York Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe (77) throws the ball to first base during the spring training game between the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees on March 24, 2023 at the George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Volpe, who is from Watchung, New Jersey, was a first-round pick by the Yankees in 2019 and received a non-roster spring training invite. He grew up a Yankees fan living in North Jersey.
«I never really had a choice,» he told MLB.com about his Yankees fandom. «It was kind of all or nothing for as long as I can remember. But my parents and grandparents and my whole family are super, big Yankees fans. And I definitely got lucky growing up and being able to go to a couple of games and not really have a choice, but then fall in love with the team myself.»
In 17 games in spring training, he hit .314 with a 1.064 OPS, three home runs and six doubles.
The 21-year-old shortstop will be in the infield with Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and Josh Donaldson in the first series of the season.
Anthony Volpe #77 of the New York Yankees runs during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on March 13, 2023 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
New York begins the 2023 season at home against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.