Sabathia Urges Yankees to Better Shield Young Players as Club Chases 28th World Series
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 15
Sabathia Urges Yankees to Better Shield Young Players as Club Chases 28th World Series
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 15
Summary
CC Sabathia said the Yankees need to do a better job insulating young players from New York’s pressure, pointing to Anthony Volpe and George Lombard Jr. as recent examples.
At his foundation’s 6th annual golf classic Monday, Sabathia said prospects quickly get labeled in the Bronx and struggle to build goodwill with fans unless they produce immediately, as Aaron Judge did with 50 homers.
Volpe, 25, has endured a four-season swing between cheers and criticism, but Sabathia said his perseverance should help him contribute down the stretch whether at shortstop, second base or elsewhere.
The pressure is heightened by the Yankees’ title drought: the franchise has 27 championships but has not won since Sabathia’s 2009 club, reaching only one World Series since and losing the 2024 Fall Classic to the Dodgers.
With New York already back in the postseason, Sabathia said that expectation is unmatched in MLB and falls especially hard on young players trying to develop in pinstripes.