Yankees Shortstop Anthony Volpe Faces Tough Rehab Test Against Phillies' Zack Wheeler

Volpe struggled at the plate but avoided any setbacks in his return from shoulder surgery.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:49am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the rehab game between Yankees prospect Anthony Volpe and Phillies star Zack Wheeler, highlighting the complexity and challenges of the recovery process.Philadelphia Today

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe faced a challenging test in his rehab game on Tuesday, going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, who is also on a rehab assignment. Despite the tough outing, the fact that Volpe got through the game without any injury issues is seen as a positive sign for his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Why it matters

Volpe is a highly touted Yankees prospect expected to be the team's everyday shortstop once he returns from injury. His struggles at the plate against a star pitcher like Wheeler highlight the difficulty of the rehab process, but the Yankees remain committed to developing Volpe as a key part of their future.

The details

Volpe, who appeared in 153 games for the Yankees in 2025 and hit .212/.272/.391, is recovering from shoulder surgery. He faced off against Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, who is also on a rehab assignment after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the offseason. Despite the 0-for-2 performance with two strikeouts, the Yankees are encouraged that Volpe was able to get through the game without any setbacks to his recovery.

  • The Yankees and Phillies Double-A teams faced off on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Anthony Volpe

A highly touted Yankees shortstop prospect who is recovering from shoulder surgery and expected to be the team's everyday starter at the position once healthy.

Zack Wheeler

A star pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies who is also on a rehab assignment after undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the offseason.

New York Yankees

The MLB team that Volpe plays for, which is currently 9-7 on the season and looking to make a serious postseason run in 2026.

Philadelphia Phillies

The MLB team that Wheeler plays for, which faced off against the Yankees' Double-A affiliate in the rehab game.

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What’s next

Volpe is expected to continue his rehab assignment as he works his way back to being the Yankees' everyday shortstop. The Yankees will monitor his progress closely as they look to make a deep playoff run in 2026.

The takeaway

Anthony Volpe's challenging rehab game against Zack Wheeler shows the difficulty of the recovery process, but the Yankees remain committed to developing the young shortstop as a key part of their future. His ability to get through the game without any setbacks is an encouraging sign, even as he struggles at the plate against a star pitcher.