Radio host Adam Schein has voiced strong criticism of New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, pointing to a perceived lack of connection with franchise icon Derek Jeter as a significant red flag. Schein shared his views on a recent episode of "Schein Time," reacting to comments Jeter made in an interview.
In an interview with Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Jeter acknowledged not knowing Volpe well, stating, "Personally, I don’t know him that well. We’ve had a couple conversations, I don’t know him well." Jeter added that the Yankees are "banking on a big upside" and expressed hope that Volpe could "put it together, they can put it together soon."
Schein interpreted Jeter's remarks as indicative of a larger issue. "He has no relationship with him?" Schein questioned on "Schein Time." "Hey Anthony, you wanna pick up the phone and call Derek Jeter? He’d return the call. He’d text you back. That’s one red flag."
Schein further elaborated on his critique, suggesting Volpe's current performance does not warrant a major league position. "Guy like that should not be in the major leagues. That’s the interpretation of what Derek Jeter is telling me," Schein said. He cited Volpe's offensive struggles, stating, "He’s been a bad offensive player. Look at his stats. Watch him play the last four years. He can’t hit. Look at his batting average. Now, he can’t hit and he can’t field. He can’t run and has no fundamentals, and does of the most insane things you’ve ever seen on a baseball field. You know what that is? That’s a minor leaguer."
Schein argued that Volpe's presence on the field creates dysfunction within the team, implying that the Yankees organization, specifically General Manager Brian Cashman, is attempting to justify the high draft position given to Volpe. "You can’t function with Anthony Volpe. You can’t because the players in the clubhouse know. It means that Brian Cashman is trying to save face and rationalize taking Volpe as high as he did in the draft, and saying dumb things in the past like, ‘Well, we’ll let it play out on the field’ and ‘I believe in this guy.’ No! Volpe is everything with the New York Yankees and that’s a problem. So, I think it’s incumbent upon the Yankees so they could move on."
Volpe's tenure with the Yankees has been marked by inconsistency. He underwent surgery for a torn labrum in October following significant struggles in the previous year. The 2026 season began with Volpe in the minor leagues, having to earn his way back to the major league club after Jose Caballero impressed at the shortstop position. Over four seasons, Volpe has a career .224 batting average and a .662 OPS, with 416 hits, 53 home runs, 205 RBIs, and 77 stolen bases. His defensive record includes 54 career errors and a .970 fielding percentage.