WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup winner Anthony Volpe makes MLB World Series history

WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2013 winner Anthony Volpe helped the New York Yankees stay alive in the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series. The 23-year-old shortstop hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw from reliever Dan Hudson in the bottom of the third, giving the Yankees a lead they wouldn't surrender.

It was his first postseason home run, the 34th in 319 MLB games. The Yankees went on to win, 11-4. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the series 3-1. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30, in New York.

Only three players have hit a grand slam in the World Series at a younger age than Volpe, who is 23 and 184 days old. Mickey Mantle hit one in Game 5 of the 1953 Fall Classic when he was 21 years and 349 days old. Addison Russel hit a grand slam in Game 6 of the 2016 World Series at 22 years and 283 days. Gil McDougalo was 23 and 143 days old when he hit his grand slam in Game 5 of the 1951 World Series.

The New York Yankees shortstop became the first player with four runs batted in (RBIs) and two stolen bases in a World Series game.

"Hopefully, when we win the World Series, we can all reflect on everything with my family, but it was just a big game. We just want to go out every day and see where it takes us," he commented in the post-game press conference.

Volpe was born in Manhattan, New York. His father, Michael, is of Italian descent, while his mother, Isabelle, is of Filipino descent. They are both doctors. He attended Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, and had committed to Vanderbilt University when the Yankees selected him in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He signed for a US$2.7 million bonus.

Before starting a professional career, Volpe became an international baseball veteran. After helping the United States win the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2013, he was the starting shortstop for the bronze medal team at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2016. He also helped USA qualify for the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2019 as their starting second baseman.

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Volpe played the 2019 season at the Rookie League level. After the 2020 season was canceled, Volpe impressed at the Low-A and High-A levels in 2021. He played at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2022 and made his MLB debut on April 14, 2023.

Volpe, a lifelong Yankees fan, attended the parade as an eight-year-old with his family the last time the Yankees won the World Series in 2009.