The Yankees hope they got a peek into the future in their Game 4 win on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Two standout performers figure to be in pinstripes for a long time and already share a special bond in their first full big-league season together.
Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells both had two hits and a homer on the biggest stage — Volpe’s being a grand slam — as the pair of former prospects share a special bond dating back to their minor league days.
“It’s not really a friendship anymore, It’s a brotherhood,” said Volpe. “We’ve been through it all together. The highest of highs and at some point, the lowest of lows. He’s my first call, my last call. “I know he has my back through thick and thin.”
The pair of youngsters spent time in both Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley in 2021 before being teammates in Double-A Somerset in 2022. The catcher and shortstop both speak glowingly about the relationship they share.
“I think the cool part about coming up together was that we both had the same goals coming up here and being able to help contribute to a winning team and knowing that our goal was to help win a World Series,” said Wells. “So I think for the both of us being here in this position, I think that was kind of something that we both felt we could bring to the table, and it’s pretty cool to be here.”
Volpe shared a moment with Yankees legend Derek Jeter after Tuesday’s victory. The two share quite a few things in common as both grew up Yankee fans from New Jersey and accomplished their dream of becoming their shortstop.
However, the way Volpe described his relationship with Wells was reminiscent of how Jeter spoke about the relationship he had with his longtime catcher.
“I would say Jorge [Posada], he’s my brother,” Jeter said in an interview with The Players Tribune in 2023. “[All of my teammates] are my brothers except [Joe Torre], he’s like a second father to me. But me and [Jorge] were together every single day for about 20 years. My oldest [child] has the same birthday as him. He’s the godfather to my oldest so, this guys my brother.”
Volpe and Wells have had their fair share of ups and downs in pinstripes early in their careers. The shortstop has yet to find his footing as a consistent offensive force — although his impressive postseason is certainly a step in the right direction — but does have a Gold Glove and is a finalist for a second in his second season.
After starting off slow in his rookie campaign, Wells came on as an offensive force and eventually landed in the cleanup spot between Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton entering October. However, a postseason slump led to him being dropped in the order and benched in Game 3 of the World Series.
The experience the two minor league teammates garnered in their first postseason could certainly be a stepping stone as the Bombers hope they establish themselves as pillars of many World Series participant teams.
