Yankees Fans Plead for Didi Gregorius to Replace Anthony Volpe

Former Yankees shortstop visits spring training facility, sparking calls from fans to sign him over struggling incumbent.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 3:31pm

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Former New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, a fan favorite during his five seasons with the club, visited the team's spring training facility in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday. This sparked calls from Yankees fans on social media for the team to sign Gregorius and replace the struggling incumbent shortstop Anthony Volpe, who has posted an OPS of .666 or lower in three consecutive seasons.

Why it matters

Gregorius was a popular and productive player during his time with the Yankees, helping fill the void left by the retirement of Derek Jeter. Fans have grown increasingly frustrated with Volpe's lack of development, and see the veteran Gregorius as a better option to stabilize the shortstop position for the perennial contenders.

The details

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gregorius can be seen taking batting practice swings with the Yankees before the first official day of spring training. Several fans left comments on the post pleading with the Yankees to sign Gregorius, with one saying "I've seen enough, he's still better than Volpe" and another writing "I'm not joking, I think he'd be a better option than automatic out Volpe." However, the Yankees' front office has expressed confidence in Volpe's ability to bounce back from offseason labrum surgery, making it unlikely they will make a change at shortstop in the near future.

  • Gregorius visited the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Didi Gregorius

A former shortstop for the New York Yankees who was a fan favorite during his five seasons with the club from 2015-2019.

Anthony Volpe

The current starting shortstop for the New York Yankees, who has struggled offensively in his first three MLB seasons.

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What’s next

The Yankees' front office has shown confidence in Anthony Volpe's ability to bounce back, so he is not expected to be replaced by Didi Gregorius in the near future.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing frustration among Yankees fans with the team's current shortstop situation, and the nostalgia many feel for the popular and productive Didi Gregorius. However, the Yankees appear committed to giving Volpe more time to develop, despite the calls from fans to bring back the veteran Gregorius.