Jose Caballero Aims to Prove He’s More Than a Placeholder in Yankees’ Infield
TAMPA, Fla. - Jose Caballero isn’t trying to take Anthony Volpe’s job - but he is trying to make the most of it while it’s his.
With Volpe sidelined until roughly May as he recovers from offseason labrum surgery, Caballero is set to open the 2026 season as the Yankees’ starting shortstop. And while he’s not looking to spark any Wally Pipp comparisons, Caballero knows this stretch is a golden opportunity to show he belongs in the Yankees’ lineup - not just temporarily, but consistently.
“I’ll try to take advantage of the opportunity and show everyone that I can play every day,” Caballero said.
That mindset tracks for a player who led all of baseball with 49 stolen bases last season, after topping the American League with 44 the year before. Speed is his calling card, and he’s not backing off that identity anytime soon.
His goal for 2026? Simple: More.
“Fifty,” he said. “We can build from there. And I want to be above 80 percent successful.”
Given that he swiped 49 bags last year at an 81.2% success rate, that’s a realistic - and dangerous - target for opposing pitchers and catchers. Caballero's speed isn’t just a weapon; it’s a tone-setter.
He pressures defenses, creates chaos, and forces mistakes. But he knows that to truly stick in the Yankees’ everyday plans, he’ll need to bring more than just wheels.
One area he’s particularly focused on: the bat.
“Like a good player would say, I’m always going to shoot for .300,” Caballero said.
That’s a lofty goal for a player with a career .228 average, but there’s reason for optimism. After being traded from Tampa Bay to New York last July 31 - in a rare in-division deal that happened right after the two teams wrapped up a game at Yankee Stadium - Caballero hit .266 with three homers in 40 games for the Yankees. That was a notable jump from the .226 mark he posted with the Rays in 86 games earlier in the year.
Combined, he finished the season at .236 - not quite the .300 he’s aiming for, but a step in the right direction.
“I think more playing time can help with that,” Caballero said. “I’m not saying this is an excuse, but sometimes whenever you are on the bench for a few days, it’s not easy to get back in there and hit. If you get seven at-bats in a week, it’s hard to hit.
“When you get regular at-bats it’s easier. I think everyone can say that.”
He’s not wrong. Rhythm matters, especially for hitters who rely on timing and feel.
But even with steady playing time in Tampa - 139 games, 483 plate appearances, 123 starts across three positions - Caballero managed just a .236 average with nine home runs and a .686 OPS. So while the opportunity was there, the results weren’t always consistent.
Still, Caballero believes there’s another level to his game. And so do the Yankees.
“I think there’s more room in that, more akin to who he was with us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully he can get to that level where it is a more consistent offensive profile.
He shows the ability to control the strike zone a little bit. He had a decent (.339) on-base (percentage) last year.
He didn’t hit a ton of homers. Not that that’s his game by any means, but he does show the ability to impact the ball a little bit.”
That’s the thing with Caballero - he’s not trying to be something he’s not. He’s not here to slug his way into the lineup.
He’s here to be a spark plug. A disruptor.
A guy who can play multiple positions, steal a base when it matters, and grind out a tough at-bat in a big moment.
“He’s just a real gritty gamer, a tough, competitive, scrappy out at the plate,” Boone said. “We like that about him.
We like what he brings to the table. He does the short game well.
He can hit behind a runner. He can bunt.
He can bunt for a hit.
“I think the thing that stands out about Jose is confidence. He just plays the game with a lot of confidence and loves the action, loves the competition, and that shows through with him. It seems like the bigger the at-bat, the tougher out he becomes.”
That last part isn’t just manager-speak. Caballero hit .269 with runners in scoring position last season - a noticeable jump from his .225 mark in all other situations. He thrives in the moment.
“One thing about me, I feel like when I get at-bats that really matter in the game I focus a little bit more,” Caballero said. “I’m focused all the time, but hitting in a big situation helps bring the best out of me.”
And while he’s still relatively new to the Bronx, Caballero already feels at home in pinstripes. After debuting with the Mariners in 2023 and spending most of the next two seasons with Tampa Bay, he’s now part of a clubhouse led by stars like Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt - and he’s felt welcomed from the start.
“The group made it way easy to fit in,” he said. “When you have guys like Paul Goldschmidt, who's been around, and Aaron Judge, the captain … Judge brings you right into the team and treats you like you’ve been here longer.”
Now, with a fresh season ahead and a starting job - at least temporarily - in his hands, Caballero is focused on two things: helping the Yankees win, and showing he can be more than just a fill-in.
“I just want to help the team,” he said. “That’s the main thing.
Help the team win some games. That and like I said, show the Yankees that I can play every day.”
If he keeps stealing bases, grinding out at-bats, and flashing that signature confidence, Caballero might just do both.