Yankees' Anthony Volpe to wear No. 11

What number would adorn the back of his uniform is a question many Yankees fans have wondered since it was reported that the 21-year-old had made the Opening Day roster. The Yankees, of course, have retired 21 different numbers from their storied history so the choices are limited to begin with. For a homegrown prospect with as much hype as Volpe has carried, the decision was sure to draw attention. 

Volpe wore number 77 throughout spring training. The decision was, in part, thanks to Volpe’s grandfather being a big Mickey Mantle fan. 

Brett Gardner was the last Yankee to wear 11 and he did so notably. Gardner was a real fan favorite who batted .256/.342/.398 during his 14-year career in New York. He was a fierce competitor who last played in 2021. 

A first-round pick in 2019, Volpe has impressed at every stop in the minors to date and was a consensus pick across top prospect rankings heading into spring training. After hitting .302/.413/.632 this spring he’ll be stepping onto the biggest stage yet when the Yankees open their season. Volpe grew up attending Yankees games, watching players like Gardner and childhood hero Derek Jeter – who offered up his own encouragement for the new Yankees shortstop – and now he’ll step on the same field.