Anthony Volpe sent a chill through the Yankees organization Saturday when, in describing the left shoulder injury he suffered during that afternoon’s game, the 24-year-old said he felt a “pop” on the field when he went down.

But, for now, it appears the Yankees have avoided the worst-case scenario with the shortstop.

Speaking before Sunday afternoon’s game against the Rays – the start time for which was delayed by rain – manager Aaron Boone said the MRI and X-rays Volpe underwent Saturday all came back showing “good news.”

Meaning, no structural damage.

“He’s sore today,” Boone said. “But feel like we’re probably in a good spot. [He’s] day-to-day right now. Probably [will] do some hitting today, see where that is. Strength and everything is real good. So I would say overall encouraging news.”

Volpe hurt the shoulder making a diving attempt for a ball in the eighth inning. Volpe stayed down for a bit but eventually stayed in the game (he committed an error later in the inning, which contributed to the go-ahead run scoring in what was a 3-2 Rays victory).

Speaking after Saturday’s Volpe did not sound particularly optimistic.

“That’s what I hope. So knock on wood,” Volpe said of potentially dodging a bullet. “But I haven’t really been in this situation, so it’s just scary. It feels good in all the movements and everything feels good. But just a weird play . . . Happened quick. I felt like a pop in my shoulder. It happened quick and was scary. But after that I felt OK and I felt like I had my strength, so they tested me, and I feel good.”

The Yankees could ill-afford to lose Volpe for an extended period. Though his consistency with the bat continues to be work in progress in what is now his third full season in the majors, Volpe has established himself as an elite defensive shortstop. After winning a Gold Glove his rookie season, Volpe has still improved in the field each successive year.

The Yankees infield already took a blow late in the week that second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. would be down for the next 4-6 weeks, at least, with a right oblique strain.

Oswald Peraza, who lost out to Volpe during a spring training competition in 2023 for the starting job at short but who was considered during his development in the minors a prospect on the same level as Volpe, started at short Sunday. Pablo Reyes started at second.