New level, new team, new challenge … same Anthony Volpe.
The Yankees’ No. 1 prospect, Volpe was bumped up to Double-A this season and looked good debuting Friday night with the Somerset Patriots, his hometown team.
Leading off and playing shortstop, Volpe was 2-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly in Somerset’s 6-2 season-opening win at Reading.
Volpe got his first Double-A hit in his first at-bat, as he led off the game with a knock to left that led to a baserunning mistake, as he was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
Next time up, Volpe made amends, as he started a rally with a one-out double to left. When Elijah Dunham followed with a double to left, the game was tied 1-1.
The Watchung, N.J., native’s first Double-A RBI came in the ninth to pad a 5-2 Somerset lead. Batting with runners on second and third, he plated an insurance run with a one-out sac fly to center.
Catcher Josh Breaux hit a two-run, fifth-inning homer for Somerset, who plays Reading two more times this weekend.
The Patriots have Monday off, then play Erie in their home opener on Tuesday night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater Township, N.J.
Here are other recent NJ Advance Media posts on the Patriots:
-- Anthony Volpe has interesting take on Yankees passing on free-agent shortstops
-- Is Anthony Volpe the next Derek Jeter? Fellow Yankees prospect says hype is legit
-- How Yankees top prospect Anthony Volpe handles Derek Jeter comparisons
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.