The New York Yankees called up Anthony Volpe on May 12 ahead of their game against the Baltimore Orioles, ending a frustrating stretch sidelined by a shoulder injury. The move came less because Volpe forced the issue in Triple-A and more because New York suddenly needed stability at shortstop after Jose Caballero’s injury.
Volpe’s minor league numbers did little to silence critics, but the Yankees still see value in giving him another chance at the major league level during a demanding stretch of games.
Anthony Volpe and his girlfriend Elle Jowett (Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post)
Volpe’s return feels complicated as the conversation around him has shifted over the last year. There is still patience within the organization, but outside it, opinions are sharply divided. Some fans continue to view him as a long-term piece capable of fulfilling the role many expected when he first arrived in the Bronx. Others are losing confidence, especially after another slow offensive stretch during his rehab assignment.
His numbers at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre were far from convincing. In nine games, Volpe hit .205 with one home run and a .571 OPS. Under normal circumstances, those performances might not have earned an immediate promotion. But injuries often accelerate decisions, and the Yankees suddenly had little room to wait.
That makes this next stretch crucial, not only for Volpe but also for how the Yankees approach their infield going forward. The team remains in a tightly contested American League race, and patience becomes harder to justify when every game matters in May and June.
Away from the field, Volpe still appears to have strong support. His girlfriend, Elle Jowett, drew attention online Tuesday after posting photos from a recent modeling shoot on Instagram. The post, captioned “portfolio close ups 🪻🌷⭐️”, quickly garnered reactions from several Yankees partners and family members. Chase Bellinger commented, “GORGEOUS.” Sara added, “ELLE!!!!! Beautiful!! 🩵🩵.” Amy Cole wrote, “Stunning!”
Volpe and Jowett rarely make their relationship a public storyline, but their connection remains visible through her regular appearances at Yankees games and their social media interactions. With the Yankees heading back to New York later this week for the Subway Series against the New York Mets at Citi Field, there is a good chance she will again be in the stands as Volpe tries to reset the narrative around his season.
