Brett Gardner jersey owners, rejoice.
Anthony Volpe, the Yankees' top prospect, will take the field on Opening Day and stand in the spot where he watched Derek Jeter play out a Hall of Fame career. When he takes the field, though, he'll have the blessing another former Yankee favorite.
After wearing No. 77 during spring training, Volpe's new number is 11, giving those Brett Gardner (or Chuck Knoblauch or Gary Sheffield or Doug Mientkiewicz) jerseys a second (or third or fourth) life.
Number 11, Anthony Volpe. Number 11. pic.twitter.com/BTD5rWHCRy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 29, 2023
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But the number wasn't exactly just given to the rook. Volpe actually requested the number from Gardner; No. 11 wasn't worn at all in 2022, and was last worn by Gardner himself in 2021.
Before Anthony Volpe agreed to wear #11 with the Yankees, he called Brett Gardner, who last wore 11, and asked for Gardner's blessing. According to Joe Bick, Gardner's agent, Gardner gave Volpe his full approval and wished him all the best with 11. Classy on both ends. #Volpe
— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) March 29, 2023
Gardner wore 11 from 2008 to 2021, the entirety of his MLB career. The longtime left fielder wasn't exactly a Hall of Fame-caliber player (or Monument Park, for that matter), but he turned out to be a Yankee fan favorite. It's a cool little show of respect from a hopeful future Yankee stalwart to a former Yankee stalwart.
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There may be another reason that Volpe opted for the number, and it's about honoring a Yankees scout more than a player. According to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips, Kelly Rodman, the area scout who became close with Volpe before she passed in 2020, wore a No. 11 jersey to scouting events.
I'm told that Kelly Rodman, the late #Yankees scout who became close with Anthony Volpe before her passing in 2020, used to wear a No. 11 Yankees jersey for scouting events like the Area Code Games & exhibitions. https://t.co/LHgGjRgBWE
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) March 29, 2023
Volpe won the shortstop job outright during spring training, wading through a crowded infield depth chart to steal the role.
Now, he hopes to steal the hearts of Bombers fans on Opening Day.
