HOUSTON — Among the 134 qualified hitters in the major leagues last season, Anthony Volpe posted the second-lowest on-base percentage at .283.
The Yankees shortstop is off to a good start in correcting that in his sophomore campaign.
Volpe reached base in four of his five plate appearances on Opening Day, including walking three times to help fuel a pair of rallies as the Yankees beat the Astros 5-4 on Thursday at Minute Maid Park.
“I think he looks like a way better hitter, period,” manager Aaron Boone said.
It marked the first time in Volpe’s young career that he has drawn three walks in a game.
Two were four-pitch walks with men on base, the second coming against reliever Seth Martinez to force in a run from third and pull the Yankees within 4-3 in the fifth inning.
Volpe, who officially went 1-for-2 out of the six-hole, worked over the offseason to level out his swing, which showed in his first at-bat when he smoked a single back up the middle.
But most of his production on Thursday came from not swinging and instead having a patient approach at the plate.
“[Volpe’s at-bats] embodied what we want to be,” Boone said. “He was great. Every at-bat, even the punchout [in his last at-bat]… he was on time, tough at-bats, more of what we’ve been seeing.”
By the time Jon Berti landed and got to the Yankees’ team hotel on the heels of Wednesday’s trade, it was 2 a.m. Thursday.
So Boone gave his new infielder a day to catch his breath instead of throwing him right into the lineup, with Berti watching from the dugout as third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera hit a game-tying home run.
“Just want [Berti] to get acclimated as best as he can,” Boone said before the game. “Hopefully today helps get him settled in a little bit and then we can roll.”
Berti got the news he had been traded from Marlins manager Skip Schumaker during a workout Wednesday in Miami. He was not expecting it but took it in stride and was in his new uniform, wearing No. 19, roughly 24 hours later.
“It was just a whirlwind of emotions,” Berti said. “Super excited just to come to such an organization that’s so prestigious.”
Berti figures to get a steady dose of action at third base while DJ LeMahieu is out before moving around, with Boone calling him a “front-line super-utility player.”
“Talking to a lot of people in the National League — people in the National League East were really excited for him to leave that division,” Boone said. “So I’m excited to see what he does for us.”
Berti said he was ready for whatever the Yankees need him to do.
“I just play the game hard, play the game the right way and do whatever I can to help this team win,” he said.
The Yankees finalized their roster Thursday morning, with right-handers Nick Burdi and Clayton Beeter keeping the final two spots in the bullpen and Jahmai Jones securing the final spot on the bench.
The Yankees only had to clear a 40-man roster spot for Burdi (Beeter and Jones were already on it), and did so by placing Gerrit Cole on the 60-day injured list.
That means the reigning AL Cy Young winner will be out at least until May 27, which was right around the best-case scenario anyway for when he could return from nerve inflammation and edema in his right elbow.
Cole could potentially begin throwing as soon as next week.
“Excited about hopefully the prospects of Gerrit getting back to us at some point,” Boone said. “I know the rehab so far has gone OK.”
Luis Gil threw 75 pitches during a live batting practice session Wednesday at Minute Maid Park, his final tuneup before starting Monday against the Diamondbacks.
What does Boone remember about his first Opening Day in 1998?
“I remember [Reds owner] Marge Schott having a giant elephant on the field and it taking a giant movement right on the turf in front of the dugout, about 15 minutes before the game,” Boone said. “It actually helped settle me down.”
