For months, the New York Yankees watched Anthony Volpe grind through at-bats like someone trying to run in ankle-deep sand—working hard but never getting anywhere fast. Then, from September 10th to the 14th, he was sidelined entirely, his bat silent and his future uncertain as he nursed a lingering shoulder issue.

Now, the mystery behind his struggles has a name: a partially torn labrum in his shoulder, an injury first suffered back in May that has quietly haunted him all summer.

When Volpe finally returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday, it felt like a breath of fresh air in a stale room. He went 2-for-4, including a double lashed to the opposite field, scoring twice and driving in a run. For a player who has looked out of sync for much of the season, this wasn’t just a box-score boo

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