KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the spring of 2023, the Yankees named Anthony Volpe to the Opening Day roster even though he had played just 22 games at the Triple-A level.

At the time, Aaron Boone noted Volpe’s “energy” and “an instinct that he has that is evident.”

Over the course of his two seasons in The Bronx, Volpe has faced his fair share of struggles, but so far in October he has lived up to Boone’s expectations.

Again in Wednesday night’s 3-2 victory over Kansas City in Game 3 of the ALDS, which put the Yankees one win away from the ALCS, Volpe reached base three times and made a great diving catch on a Vinnie Pasquantino liner in the second half of the match. eighth, with the Yankees holding onto a one-run lead.

“It was weird,” Volpe said of the play. “I thought he was hitting harder and was going to cover and get the cut on third, but I realized it was soft and went for it.”

Luke Weaver ultimately escaped the inning without any damage.

“That would have caused problems there,” Weaver said.

Volpe, who grew up dreaming of playing shortstop for the Yankees, simply called his first playoff experience “a lot of fun.”

“We’ve had a lot of days off,” Volpe said of what it was like in the playoffs. “I’m looking forward to all the matches. I haven’t been able to take a step back.”

If he does, Wednesday will likely be a highlight. Not only did he lead off the top of the fifth with a single to center and score later in the inning, but he also walked twice later in the game.

However, his biggest impact on the win came with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

After Tommy Kahnle led off the inning by striking out Michael Massey, Weaver came in and gave up a single to Bobby Witt Jr. through the left side of the infield.

Pasquantino followed with a soft liner in the middle. Volpe, who was thus shadowed, made a diving catch behind second base.

If the ball went up the middle, the Royals would have had runners on the corners with one out. Instead, Witt retreated to first base, and although Weaver gave up another hit to Salvador Perez, he got out of the inning with the Yankees still ahead.

“It was sick,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said.

“That’s why he’s our Gold Glove (winner),” Juan Soto said. “It’s incredible. He does it every day. No matter how he goes, he always plays the defense we need.”