FORT MYERS, Fla. — Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe have traveled parallel paths that have rarely intersected.
When one has been promoted, so has the other, the Yankees moving up their top shortstop prospects throughout the system.
There is not much of a past, but there might be a future for the middle-infield combination.
Peraza, playing shortstop, and Volpe, who moved over to second base, hooked up for a couple double plays in a 1-0 loss to the Twins on Monday.
“I’ve never really played with [Peraza], just practice,” Volpe said from Hammond Stadium after going 1-for-3 with a bloop, hustle double. “Being in the same dugout, same lineup, same infield as him has been great.”
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Peraza, who has typically been a level ahead of Volpe, said they communicated well.
Their relationship has been solid even as they compete for the same shortstop job.
“It’s a friendly competition, and we all try to do our best,” Peraza said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “The team will make a choice at some point.”
That choice is among Peraza, Volpe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has begun moving around the diamond — already having played second and third, with looks in the outfield expected — as the Yankees contemplate turning him into a utility player.
Gleyber Torres is the surefire starting second baseman, though he has been consistently rumored in trades.
Peraza, while having a quiet spring, might be the favorite for the Opening Day shortstop job, but Volpe’s bat and glove have made a strong case that he should see the major leagues soon.
Peraza’s bat is adjusting as Volpe’s glove is adjusting to second base.
The 22-year-old Peraza fought his way to the majors last season after a slow spring training and a slow April and May at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
He caught fire in June and did not stop hitting the rest of the season, including during his September promotion.
He posted an .832 OPS in his first 18 major league games.
Through seven Grapefruit League games, Peraza is 3-for-17 with three walks and a pair of steals after going 0-for-2 with a walk Monday.
It is possible he is a slow starter, though he said that notion is “not necessarily” true.
“I think it’s about making adjustments whenever you have to,” Peraza said.
Aaron Boone said Peraza has done “fine” and added, “Spring training results aren’t everything.”
“He looks the part. He looks good,” the manager said of Peraza, who has a stronger arm than Volpe. “He came in ready to go.”
Volpe’s spring numbers (9-for-28, two homers, four doubles and three steals) suggest he also arrived at camp ready to go.
His steady glove has looked natural in four Grapefruit League starts at second base — which is double the number of starts (two) he made at second in three minor league seasons.
The 21-year-old said he played some second base growing up, including his entire freshman season at Delbarton School (N.J.) and with Team USA.
“I think just the angles are different than shortstop. Just different angles off the bat, angles toward first base,” said Volpe, who credited first base coach Travis Chapman, roving instructor Dan Fiorito and guest instructor Willie Randolph with the smooth transition. “At the end of the day, I’m very lucky to have some people helping me out.”
He looked just fine navigating second base in the second and fifth innings, catching chest-high throws from Peraza and making the turn to first to complete a pair of double plays.
“[Volpe has] done a lot more work over there. Felt pretty comfortable moving him over there,” said Boone, who was impressed by how quickly Peraza and Volpe turned two. “Those aren’t just guaranteed double plays. So that was definitely good to see.”
Volpe, who is not on the 40-man roster and hit just .236 in 22 games in Triple-A last season, still faces an uphill climb to crack the Opening Day roster.
Volpe arrived at his first major league spring training early, hoping he would find his timing and rhythm quickly. It has worked.
“I think any spring training I would come ready to go, but especially this one, it being my first camp,” Volpe said. “So I would treat it like the middle of the season. I think that mindset definitely helped me out.”
