Did Anthony Volpe’s Path with the Yankees Get Decided in a Morristown Steakhouse?

In 2019, an important meeting took place at Root’s Steakhouse on the historic Morristown Green, featuring Delbarton High School standout Anthony Volpe, his parents, and Yankees executive Jim Hendry.

This dinner, orchestrated by Bruce Shatel, the Delbarton coach and son of the renowned Morristown High baseball coach Harry Shatel, had a crucial objective: persuade the Volpes to let their son bypass college and join the Yankees if the team managed to draft him.

Volpe, a dedicated Yankees fan, was already set to attend Vanderbilt with his Delbarton teammate and close friend, Jack Leiter, the son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter. Shatel reflected on the importance of this meeting, telling Ian O’Connor of the New York Post that without it, the narrative might have been very different.

At 21, Volpe now holds the position of starting shortstop for the Yankees following a remarkable spring training filled with impactful hits, home runs, and impressive defensive plays. Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced that Volpe will bat eighth or ninth when the Yankees kick off the season against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium.

Hendry’s words from that evening resonate now: “This may be your only chance to join the Yankees. If we’re correct about your potential, you might be drafted too high for us to pick you after Vanderbilt.”

Indeed, the Yankees selected Volpe with their late first-round pick, and he has since become a rookie sensation alongside stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Reflecting on his journey, Volpe shared, “I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Yankees, just like many of my peers. This has been a long-time aspiration.”