Anthony Volpe. New York Yankees/Getty Images
Anthony Volpe made his MLB debut in 2023 as a New York Yankee, fulfilling not only his childhood dream, but those of his family.
The shortstop, who was drafted by the Yankees in 2019, comes from a long line of Bronx-based baseball lovers dating back to Volpe’s great grandfather. According to the athlete, when his great grandfather returned from World War II, he was a stranger to his son, Volpe’s paternal grandfather.
“The way he got to know … his father was he sat on his lap every single night and they listened to the Yankees together,” Volpe said during a Tuesday, October 29, press release of his grandfather’s connection to the sport. “So for him, it’s more than sports.”
The love of baseball and the Yankees trickled down to Anthony’s father, Michael Volpe, and to the player himself, who won Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Courtesy of Clarke Schmidt/Instagram New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt is primed and ready for the 2024 World Series. “All the games I pitch are pressure at this point,” the athlete told reporters in October 2024, ahead of World Series Game 3. “It’s something I’ll be ready for, and I’m excited to get back out […]
In Anthony’s second season in the bigs, he cemented himself in the Yankees history books by hitting a grand slam in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series, helping his team to stay alive in the quest for the championship against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His family, however, have loved him well before he was a star.
Scroll down to meet Anthony’s inner circle:
Anthony Volpe Sr.
Anthony’s namesake, his grandfather, is one of the reasons the player is a diehard Yankees player. The elder Anthony was at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday when his grandson hit a grand slam, telling the New York Post, “We needed a big hit, the whole team needed it, and he gave it to them. You couldn’t hear yourself think after that.”
Michael Volpe
Anthony’s father, Michael, raised the MLB player and his sister, Olivia, in New York City alongside his wife, Isabelle Volpe. During their time in the city, the family were partial season ticket holders for the Yankees. When the team won the 2009 World Series, Michael and Anthony were among the members of their family on hand for the victory parade.
Michael, who is a urologist, eventually relocated their family to New Jersey, but they have remained dedicated to the baseball team. Michael has also been an avid supporter of his son’s career, even when he was just a kid.
“Anthony liked baseball ever since he was a baby,’’ Michael told the New Jersey Hills in 2022. “We would watch the games, with little bean bags, you know the souvenir (plywood) bats you would get. That was the bat he would use. In a 900 square foot apartment in New York City, throwing these bean bags and with a little wooden bat he would hit them all over our apartment.’’
Isabelle Volpe
Anthony’s mother, Isabelle, is of Filipino descent. She is an anesthesiologist. Like her husband, Isabelle rarely misses any of her son’s games. After watching Anthony in Game 4 of the World Series in October, she told the New York Post how “surreal” it’s been to see him achieve his dream.
“We cheered for the Yankees before he was born. This whole thing is a trip,” she told the outlet. “To say the least, this is overwhelming. I can only imagine how he’s feeling. We’ve been pinching each other through this whole thing. You dream about it, everyone dreams about it, but no one thinks it’s gonna happen. His hard work, determination and so much support has all led to this insane time.”
Olivia Volpe
Olivia is Anthony’s older sister by two years. She was on hand when her brother was drafted to the Yankees in 2019. According to her social media profile, she lives in Georgetown.
