Yankees’ Anthony Volpe Discusses Choosing No. 11 with Help from Rizzo and Judge

BALTIMORE — Anthony Volpe, the New York Yankees‘ young infielder, shared the story behind his jersey number during the first episode of YES Network’s “The Story of My Number,” set to premiere on May 14. Volpe wears No. 11, a number he chose with input from veterans Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Judge.

“When I got called up out of spring training, my head was all over the place,” Volpe recalls. “The last thing I was thinking of was what number I was going to be.” He explained that Rizzo and Judge approached him, asking, “Where’s your head at? What are you thinking?”

During his transition to the major leagues, Volpe felt overwhelmed by the process. Rizzo and Judge suggested No. 11, which had previously been worn by Brett Gardner for his entire 14-year career with the Yankees. Rizzo made it a priority to ensure Gardner was okay with the choice before continuing.

“I think the most important thing was I got to ask for his blessing and then thank him,” Volpe said. “I wanted to thank him for treating Judgey and all the guys that treated me so well.”

The second season of “The Story of My Number,” hosted by Gracie Cashman, will feature interviews with several notable athletes, including Dwight Gooden and Paul O’Neill.

In another discussion around the Yankees, the team recently dominated the Baltimore Orioles in a 15-3 victory at Camden Yards. New York established a franchise record by knocking four home runs in the first inning. Rizzo’s reaction to the power display was, “You can kind of fade off after the first inning. But this team kept the pedal to the metal.”

Anthony Volpe contributed to the offensive might with multiple hits, marking a strong night for the team which accumulated a season-high 19 hits. The victory provided a much-needed boost for the Yankees after a period of inconsistent performance.

Manager Aaron Boone praised the collective effort, stating, “What a performance. Just a great job by everyone putting together a big night.” As the season continues, Volpe’s journey with his new number and the team’s offensive prowess will be closely followed by fans and analysts alike.