Yankees’ Anthony Volpe flashes leather in last game before MLB debut

WASHINGTON — Shortstop Anthony Volpe has already earned a spot on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. He could’ve gone through the motions during Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Nationals in Washington, D.C., saving his best for his MLB debut on Thursday. Instead, the top prospect put his body on the line, making two web gems in a3-0 loss.

With two outs in the bottom of the second and a runner on second base, Volpe scampered to his left, laying out to make a diving stop. He quickly rose to his feet, throwing a rocket to first base to nab Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams — one of the speediest infielders in the National League — and prevent a run from scoring.

Aaron Judge recalled charging in from center field, planning to field the base hit and throw to home plate. He never got the chance.

“Before I can even get that thought through, he’s diving, making the play, getting up and throwing out a fast runner. So that was pretty impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing more plays like that all year round.”

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Two innings later, Volpe stretched to his backhand side, snagging a line from second baseman Luis García before tumbling forward onto the outfield grass.

“Wow,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. “I want to peek and see what kind of percent chances those plays were because they were both special.”

Asked which play was more rewarding, Volpe picked the dive behind the second base bag.

“I played with CJ all throughout high school,” said Volpe with a grin. “He was one of the fastest players I ever played with or against. I like that one.”

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Volpe was able to exceed expectations and win the Yankees’ shortstop competition this spring in large part with what he accomplished in the batter’s box (and on the base paths). Factoring in his rocket of a single in the third inning on Tuesday — he went 1-for-2 out of the nine hole before he was subbed out in the middle innings — Volpe hit .309 this spring with three home runs, 13 runs, six doubles, nine walks, five stolen bases and a 1.033 OPS.

The kid from Watchung, N.J., is looking more and more like a big leaguer. On Thursday, he’ll make it official, jogging out to shortstop at Yankee Stadium in pinstripes for the first time.

NOTABLE

-- After the game, Boone announced that relievers Greg Weissert and Ian Hamilton, as well as with outfielder Willie Calhoun, are headed to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Outfielders Estevan Florial and Rafael Ortega are both traveling with the team to New York on Tuesday, but they haven’t made the Opening Day roster just yet. Seems like a trade could be in the works...

-- Nestor Cortes made his final start before the regular season, twirling four innings of one-run ball. He served up a solo home run to Nationals left fielder Alex Call, a 1-0 fastball up in the zone in the second. Returning from his hamstring injury, the left-hander posted a 4.76 ERA in 11 1/3 innings this spring. He’s in line to pitch Game 4 of the regular season against the Phillies.

-- Aaron Hicks made a slick sliding grab in left field in the bottom of the first, robbing Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario of a base hit. Hicks will likely get the start in left field on Opening Day — with Judge in center — and after some mishaps in left, maybe this will give the outfielder an extra boost of confidence.

LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday: Off day

Thursday: Giants at Yankees, 1:05 p.m., YES. RHP Logan Webb vs. RHP Gerrit Cole.