The Yankees are officially back, and in a big way. Aaron Judge got things rolling with a two-run homer in the third inning of Wednesday’s 11-2 rout of the Nationals, sending the Stadium into a frenzy. What no one knew at that moment was that the best was still to come. Later, New York went on a tear, sending 15 batters to the plate in that same inning and piling on nine runs with eight hits, three walks, and even a catcher’s interference call. The rally dragged on for 41 minutes and reminded everyone what this lineup is capable of.

But while the bats were booming, Anthony Volpe’s struggles only grew more glaring. Already leading the league with 17 errors, the young shortstop continues to scuffle at the plate. And after a 0-for-4 showing in Tuesday’s game, he followed it up by going 0-for-5 on Wednesday. So, you can say a rough stretch that’s quickly becoming a bigger storyline.

“An 0-5 day for Anthony Volpe.” Talkin’ Yanks shared Volpe’s ordeal from Wednesday’s game.

Well, Volpe’s slump hit another low point on Wednesday. In the middle of an otherwise explosive 11-2 Yankees win over the Nationals, the shortstop was booed at Yankee Stadium after striking out to end the team’s nine-run third inning. And the numbers tell the story: Volpe hasn’t recorded a hit or even reached base in 25 straight plate appearances.

“We’re all humans,” Aaron Judge said, backing his teammate as he tries to fight through it. Volpe had just returned to the lineup on Tuesday after sitting out two games in hopes of a reset, but luck hasn’t been on his side. If you have checked Wednesday’s game, Volpe found it hard to crack the nut. A soft liner in the third, a strikeout to close the big inning, a routine groundout in the fifth, and another strikeout in the eighth after a high-velocity sinker brushed him back.

And of course, the Bleacher Creatures had plenty to say. Fans quickly took to social media, venting their frustrations and letting Volpe know just how much his slump is being felt in the Bronx.

Volpe’s slump has now left the fans clueless

“He is unplayable. There is zero reason for better players to not be playing at this point in the season. You cannot expect to go on a run with the worst hitter in baseball playing EVERYDAY.” One fan didn’t hide his frustration, terming Volpe as the worst hitter in baseball. “1 for his last 37,” another fan added, the horrible stats that clearly show Volpe’s struggle.

Well, digging into Anthony Volpe’s numbers only makes his slump look worse. Notably, after going 0-for-5 against the Nationals, he’s now just 1-for-37 over his last 11 games, with 14 strikeouts in that span. And this season, he’s hitting .204 with a .662 OPS, showing clear signs of his ongoing struggles at the plate. And there’s more…

As per Katie Sharp of Stathead, Volpe’s OBP over his last 10 games is just .031. That’s the second-worst stretch by any Yankees non-pitcher with at least 30 plate appearances in a 10-game span. If you remember, that’s all the way back to 1905, when Dave Fultz posted the worst mark. “Worst baseball player,” as they said. “Only Yankee starter without a hit today. Time to move on,” one fan remarked, how Volpe looks like the odd one out in the Yankees’ offensive burst.

“He needs to go down to the minors. Overhaul on his swing & approach. The major league club will be fine without him.” One thinks Minors are the best way forward left for Volpe. “AAA here you come!” added another.

So, just a month ago, former manager Joe Maddon floated the idea that the Yankees should consider sending Anthony Volpe to the minors, pointing to his shaky defense and obvious confidence issues. He even suggested the team pick up a shortstop rental at the trade deadline to take some pressure off the youngster. And on Tuesday, we saw why.

With Clayton Beeter on the mound for the Nationals, Jose Caballero swiped second base with ease before Beeter even finished his delivery. So, while already leading the league in steals, Caballero immediately showed how valuable he can be to this Yankees team. His presence gives the Yankees the flexibility to send Volpe down if they choose.

Now, the question is, will they actually pull the trigger? That remains to be seen.