CABALLERO IS NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME, BUT EVEN BOONE KNOWS HE'S BETTER THAN VOLPE

Now... can we just make him the starting shortstop?

Jose Caballero may not be the guy selling jerseys in Times Square or starring in Yankees hype videos, but right now he’s playing like the shortstop the Bronx actually deserves. Anthony Volpe? Well, he finally got a breather after 46 straight games, and Caballero took his chance to remind everyone that sometimes the “backup” is the better option.

In St. Louis, while the Yankees were busy sweeping the Cardinals into irrelevance, Caballero quietly became the weekend’s MVP. He went 5-for-11, tossed in two multi-hit games, worked two walks, drove in a run, and stole four bases just to make sure the Cards knew what speed really looks like. His highlight? A blistered 96.1 MPH single off Miles Mikolas that stretched the Yankees’ lead to 3-0—proving he can handle real heat, not just sneak hits off soft-tossers.

But Caballero isn’t just about hitting. The man is a Swiss Army knife with a glove—plus defender everywhere, and at shortstop he’s got the range, instincts, and guts to make plays that Volpe could only dream about during his rookie hype tour. Add in the fact that Caballero leads the American League in stolen bases this year, he’s fearless, disruptive, and the kind of baserunner who makes pitchers lose focus and fans lean forward.

Meanwhile, Volpe’s career arc has gone from “future savior” to “future question mark.” The Yankees thought they were getting a cornerstone shortstop, but what they actually got looks more like a utility infielder in disguise. Three years in, the myth is unraveling—Volpe just isn’t that guy.

And now, Caballero steps in, plays lights out, and exposes what Yankee fans already suspected: Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone backed the wrong horse. Volpe was supposed to be the answer. Caballero is proving he’s the solution.

The verdict? Simple: Caballero > Volpe. The Yankees just have to admit it.