Just when I think I couldn’t admire Dave Grohl any more, he goes and writes the ten songs on the new Foo Fighters album But Here We Are, which was released last week.

I haven’t listened to anything else since.

Another masterpiece born through grief that spans the spectrum of feelings, from rage to sorrow to heartache to anguish to regret to sadness to joy.

Authentically honest, But Here We Are is a lyrical and musical treasure where the band lays it all out , no holds barred, with Grohl on lead vocals, guitar, and drums, Nate Mendel on bass and backing vocals, Chris Shiflett on guitar and backing vocals, Pat Smear on guitar, and Rami Jaffee on keyboards.

From the band’s website:

But Here We Are is the new album from Foo Fighters, and marks the bands’ return after a year of staggering losses, personal introspection and bittersweet remembrances. A brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters have endured recently, But Here We Are is a testament to the healing powers of music, friendship and family. Courageous, damaged and unflinchingly authentic, the album opens with “Rescued,” the first of 10 songs that run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between. But Here We Are is in nearly equal measure the 11th Foo Fighters album and the first chapter of the band’s new life. Sonically channeling the naivete of Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut, informed by decades of maturity and depth, But Here We Are is the sound of brothers finding refuge in the music that brought them together in the first place 28 years ago, a process that was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life.

https://shop.foofighters.com/products/but-here-we-are-lp-white

I immediately sensed the influence and legacy of both Grohl’s mother, Virginia, who passed away last August, and drummer Taylor Hawkins, who passed away in March 2022 in every single lyric. 

A testament to the human condition, the album reminds us of the impermanence of everything around us. We that we have all been there. We are more alike than we are different, that we all suffer regardless of our station in life, and those we lose will always be with us.

But here we are.

We have been tricked by states of haze without being able to discern what’s real and what’s an illusion while the puppetmaster of life pulls string after string of heartache, and when we cannot take any more, he pulls even harder and we shriek even louder.

But here we are.

We are still standing, still living, and still loving. We have collectively endured when we most wanted to give up, crawling through life’s muck and rising from our elbows to our feet. 

But here we are.

We are still trucking, still learning, and still breathing. Defeat is not in our cards. We have screamed in the face of tragedy, escaped the clutches of collapse, and slayed our demons.

But here we are.

We rise to the plate and accept what is and are wiser and stronger than our yesterday, but not as wise and strong as we’ll be tomorrow.

But here we are.

We tunneled through never-ending storms and endless darkness to bask in the light, scarred yet triumphant while letting the tears stream from our eyes. We scream and sigh, whisper and weep, giggle and gasp, carry and cower.

But here we are.

The album is medicine for my soul, and my words do not do it justice. You have to experience it yourself, and trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite song from the album because each resonates with me in its own way with different ghosts sending their own unique shivers up and down my spine as the tracks shift from one to the next. 

The song “Show Me How” features Grohl’s daughter, Violet, accompanying him on vocals and it is hauntingly beautiful, the combination of each of their distinctive voices just perfection. Violet’s voice taking over the song at the end is particularly poignant, symbolic of her now aggrandized role as a female Grohl by blood. It’s her turn now, and just like her grandmother, she’ll take care of everything.

The members of Foo Fighters are famous. 

I, however, am not.

But we share an affinity for coping and grieving through writing and creating, through putting our vulnerability out there and being as genuine as possible as we find our singular place in our collective world amongst others who are also coping and grieving and just as vulnerable.

But here we are.

I’ve been searching for a long time for my mantra, and I have finally found it, thanks to Dave and Chris and Pat and Nate and Rami. It’s four simple words:

But here I am.

Thank you, Foo Fighters. Thank you.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“But Here We Are” was posted on jillocone.com on June 6, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

The pinkish-orange disc filtered by the atmospheric haze awakens the day as something tugs on the smiling striped moon from below. He waves goodbye and disappears while the day’s star waves hello as she rises higher.

She peeks through the rippled clouds and radiates her refreshing energy.

She is bright and blinding, warm and soothing, the promise of new beginnings and fresh starts.

She disappears if I glance behind me.

She is life and light, forgiving and accepting, a harbinger of hope and purpose.

I look to her for guidance. 

She is in front of me, calling to me, urging me to breathe and to turn my gaze inward.

She doesn’t rise from behind but ahead and casts shadows of wisdom and experience.

I cannot see her in my rearview mirror.

She dapples the heavens with glorious color, even on days when the clouds play hide and seek with her kaleidoscope.

She transforms to a darkness that renders her even more brilliant and shimmering on her next cycle.

She is the sole entity with a guaranteed tomorrow, and reminds us to live to our fullest today.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Dawning” was posted on jillocone.com on May 31, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

A few days ago, a nostalgic sputter resonated in the air above me while I was sitting on my porch writing.

The biplane with its long banner tail announcing a local watering hole’s specials sliced through the blue sky. Its pilot skillfully curved below the clouds to repeat its course over where the sand meets the ocean.

The whirling echo transported me to a memory hidden deep within my mental filing cabinet. I was a teenager lounging on my towel with my toes digging in the sand as the ocean delicately lapped the beach in front of me. Skim boards and boogie boards served as tables on that particular day, as the lack of waves rendered them useless. 

The sunscreen’s coconut blended with the funnel cake’s sweetness and the sea’s salt to create an aroma so sublime it cannot be replicated by oils, wax, or aerosol.

People of all ages frolicked at the water’s edge, their laughter occasionally drowned out by the banner plane’s signature cadence rumbling from above.

Warm. 

Serene. 

Divine.

A sliver of rattling peace in an otherwise noisy world, and an absolutely perfect moment.

Banner plane season is here once again, and I couldn’t be happier.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“It’s Banner Plance Season Again!” was posted on jillocone.com on May 24, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

Greetings! It’s time for my monthly newsletter-style entry titled “Ebb and Flow” that contains bits and pieces of reflections, updates, and anecdotes. Read on to find out what I’ve been up to…

Enduring the Waves Update: My novel is with the proofreading department as I type this, and it should take a few weeks to receive their final editing suggestions to approve. After that, it goes to layout, and once my editor and I approve the galley proof, it can take up to nine months to be assigned a publication date. I am busy with behind-the-scenes work, preparing marketing materials and the like. 

Floating With Life’s Currents: I’ve been making memories with my kiddos (nieces and nephews), including a trip to Hershey Park with “I” that was cut short by weather, but we look forward to returning later this year to finish riding all of the roller coasters. We rode three: SkyRush, Laff Track, and Fahrenheit. I took “N” to visit Fordham University then we took in a Yankees game last week. It was “Star Wars Night,” and we got our Anthony Rizzo bobble heads! What a great game! The Bronx Bombers came back to win it in the 8th inning 6-5, and we got to see Rizzo blast two home runs and Volpe also hit one into the stands. There’s no feeling like the contagious electricity of Yankee Stadium after a victory. My oldest niece “E” is home from college and working hard, and I took the three youngest (H, I, A) to school for “Bring Your Child to Work” day. Boy was I exhausted after that very active day, but it was worth it. All three said their favorite part was getting lunch from the cafeteria. We’ve got a lot to look forward to this summer, and there’s nothing I love more than making memories with them.

Tidepools: What a great time of year this is, and I am blessed to hear the songbirds, feel the sunshine, and taste the Jersey strawberries. With the sun rising earlier each day, I now have to wear sunglasses for my entire drive to school. Summer will be here soon, no doubt. I’ve written previously about my yoga class, and I am grateful every day for finding my wonderful yoga teacher Katie. Like so many other things in my life, the universe led me to the right teacher and class. I’m disconnecting more to connect with myself, and I like who I am in this moment.

Navigational Hazards and Necessary Detours: I am currently working on finishing a non-fiction manuscript and making progress on one of my two half-written novels. I’ve honored my monthly goal of writing at least 150 words a day.

The biggest inspiration over the past month came from best-selling author and actor Andrew McCarthy. My friend/fellow writer/colleague/former student Mandi Bean joined me for an incredible evening sponsored by Booktowne of Manasquan at the Algonquin Theater on Tuesday, May 9. McCarthy spoke in a question-and-answer forum about his latest memoir, Walking With Sam. The book documents McCarthy’s walk along the Camino de Santiago trail with his son, Sam. Bean wrote a moving and detailed post about the evening which you can read by clicking here. I won’t rehash all of the points she writes about, but I will share that McCarthy’s candid and witty honesty inspired me to my core and I will never again doubt myself that I am a writer. He graciously stayed to take pictures with those who attended, which was an incredible surprise and a moment I’ll never forget. I’m left grateful and inspired by his writing, his candor, and his example. 

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Ebb and Flow, Volume 2 (5/17)” was posted on jillocone.com on May 17, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

I cannot find my center.

It’s hidden somewhere underneath a crushing pile of rocks created by the wants and needs of a thousand tunnel-visioned external forces all vying to trounce my soul.

Every time I breathe and remove one from the pile, three more appear, all tossed from different directions. The forces collectively gain ground without the slightest care about the size of the rock heaps they erect in the wasteland or who they left behind.

Voices from the rushing waves scream when I quiet my mind, and a jester’s hat replaces my crown.

My center’s song used to be stronger than those piercing shrieks and flailing arms demanding my attention, my time, my mind, my soul, my heart, my life.

Shut up.

I am worth so much more than the volume of this weight.

Just shut up already.

I hurl each rock back and victoriously reclaim my center as the pile ceases to exist.

My center’s pendulum is free and abundantly swells with low tide serenity, warms from its light and aglow with its sunrise; my soul once again floats and my words flow forth like the tides of the sea.

My crown replaces the jester’s hat, and I awake, abide, and arise.

I am love.

I am peace.

I am.

Author’s note: My yoga teacher inspired this piece. Thank you, Katie, for helping me reclaim my center.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Center” was posted on jillocone.com on May 3, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

For this week’s #writerwednesday post, I thought I’d share a poem I wrote titled “Walking Myself Home.”

Walking Myself Home by Jill Ocone

I walk alone

Beneath a single star

So bright

It burns itself out,

The tears too plentiful

To extinguish the fire,

The hole too great

To fill the vacant soul.

There will be no rescue here tonight.

I walk home

Through the muck of

Unfulfilled promises

And misspent pennies.

The seed that is planted

Wilts as soon as it sprouts,

Poisons but never blooms.

There will be no rebirth here tonight.

I walk away

Whittling the layers

Away from my heart,

The bounty

A thousand discarded dreams

Plus one.

Together, they swirl around the void

Ghostlike in flight

But lifeless in kind.

There will be no awakening here tonight.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I am glad you are here.

With light and gratitude,

Jill

“Walking Myself Home” was posted on jillocone.com on April 26, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

Greetings! Once a month or #writerwednesday, I will post a newsletter-style entry that contains bits and pieces of reflections, updates, and anecdotes titled ¨Ebb and Flow.”

Oxford Languages defines ¨Ebb and Flow¨ as a recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth. It is the perfect title for this monthly collection of bits and pieces from my observations and experiences because I am forever ebbing and flowing with the tides of life. 

That phrase is also part of the tagline for my debut novel, Enduring the Waves.

Enduring the Waves Update: Enduring the Waves is my debut novel, which will be published later this year by Wild Rose Press. My manuscript was formerly titled Chapter One-A Novel, but thanks to the wisdom of everyone I have encountered at WRP, they collectively saw a better title for the story, and one that also is rife with symbolism and meaning. I am almost finished with the second rounds of edits and recently approved its stunning cover, which I will reveal closer to its release date. The publication process has taught me to let go of what I thought was and polish what is, and as a result, the novel has evolved by shedding its past versions and becoming its own entity. I hope to start an actual newsletter similar to this post within the next month and will share a sign-up link as soon as its available.

Floating WIth Life’s Currents: During last week’s break, I traveled for a quick overnight to Connecticut with my nephew and sister-in-law to look at the University of Connecticut, Yale University, and Fairfield University. I had attended the 2019 Yale Writer’s Workshop, ironically with a version of my novel that no longer exists, and I enjoyed showing the campus to my nephew. I remembered where my dorm room and some of my classrooms were, and saw more of the campus on this visit than I did in 2019. We enjoyed dinner at Texas Roadhouse and got to see UConnś arena. I also went to Yankee Stadium with my nephew, a cherished friend, and her friend and daughter to see the Yankees take on the Minnesota Twins on Tino Martinez Bobblehead Night. We got to see Tino throw out the first pitch AND Anthony Volpe hit his first major league home run. I bought his jersey from the stadium store about 30 minutes before his blast to the seats and couldn’t contain my excitement. It was such a monumental moment, and Judge hit a home run immediately after Volpe. Nestor Cortes pitched a gem but unfortunately, didn’t get the win because the bullpen blew the lead (Grrrr). It was still an outstanding evening.

Tidepools: The birds singing in the morning, the cherry and pear trees blossoming, and the grass and leaves budding has made the days much more pleasant. We made it over winter’s hump of melancholy, and boy, what a beautiful world. Call me simple, but noticing these brief moments are the best parts of my day.

Navigational Hazards and Necessary Detours: In addition to my novel’s revision, I’m under deadline for editorial projects for my publisher over at Jersey Shore Publications, as well as yearbook and end-of-year work-related deadlines. It’s a busy time, and I am doing my best to ebb and flow with the many responsibilities currently on my calendar. Last night’s yoga class was well needed and an absolutely wonderful escape, just as my writing group’s monthly meeting on Saturday. I left both feeling purposeful and inspired.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Ebb and Flow, Volume 1 (4/23)” was posted on jillocone.com on April 19, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

Warning: Salty and adult language appears in this post to convey emotion.

Longtime readers and friends know one of my favorite things to do is go to amusement parks with my nephews. “N” is 17-years-old, he’s on my husband’s side, and we began our theme park adventures when he was nine.  “N” and I add new rides and coasters we’ve ridden to our life list as we can, and at the end of last season, we rode 78 different coasters together at 13 different parks, including Six Flags Great Adventure, Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside boardwalks, Dutch Wonderland, HersheyPark, Knoebel’s, Dorney Park, Land of Make Believe, Nickelodeon Universe, Six Flags America, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, King’s Dominion, and Dollywood. 

My brother’s middlest, “I”, just turned nine last Friday and is my mini-me, no doubt. Last summer, he entered the ranks of amusement park enthusiast and joined our tribe. “I” and I began our list last year and our coaster list stood at 12 at the end of last season. So far, we’ve visited Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside boardwalks, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Nickelodeon Universe.

The non-stellar weather forecast couldn’t keep us away from Six Flags Great Adventure’s opening day last Saturday. We donned our raincoats and hoods and made the best of a mostly empty park, happy to escape the real world for a few hours.

After storing our drink cups and wallets in a locker, we checked the park app but found many of our favorite rides were either temporarily closed or closed for the day. 

“N” and I deferred to “I” to choose the first ride of the day out of the handful that were operating.

He chose Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth, which is a massive pendulum ride neither “N” nor I have ever even considered riding before. The ride reaches heights of more than 170 feet and a speed of 75 miles-per-hour while riders are rotated clockwise during the 17-story rise-and-dive rotations.

The novice park enthusiast “I” has no fear.

“N” and I do, but we sucked it up for “I” and rallied to ride the goliath.

It actually wasn’t as bad as I imagined, although we could have done without the stinging rain drops pelting us during the ride.

“I” chose Cyborg Cyber Spin as our second ride, another ride I never rode before. The park’s website describes the ride as a “thrilling anti-gravity experience like no other.” To me, it felt like I was trapped inside a washer during a load of laundry without the water. It wasn’t bad, but not a ride I’ll rush back onto.

Ride number three was Green Lantern, mostly because it was the only roller coaster open at the time. Green Lantern is a stand-up coaster with 5 inversions, a 154-foot initial drop, and a top speed of 64 miles-per-hour. It is notorious or headaches as it shakes your head back and forth between the padding designed to soften the blows. This go-around, however, resulted in less of a headache because I didn’t keep my head planted against the back of the restraints. 

We checked off three circuits on Skull Mountain, an inside coaster, and two rides on Jersey Devil (my favorite) before lunch, then we hit Dark Knight for a rather disappointing experience because none of the interior lights or themed sounds were functioning. A wild mouse in the dark? Nothing really fun about that.

The skies brightened, and within a few minutes, one would never have known the day began with storms as there wasn’t a cloud left in the sky.

“I” was ready to cross off another coaster from his list, so we headed over to Superman: Ultimate Flight for two rides. With quite possibly the longest queue I’ve ever walked, this coaster is a face-down head-first ride, with a doozy of a pretzel-roll and a very unique experience designed to emulate flying. 

We went to get our things from our locker after our second circuit, ready to pack it in for the day because we rode almost ride that was operating, and we noticed Kingda Ka was running.

Shit. 

I immediately knew what was coming, and no sooner than I could think it, I heard it  out of the mouth of the fearless “I”.

“I want to ride Kingda Ka!” 

“N” and I looked at each other and shook our heads while agreeing to take a walk over to the tallest rollercoaster on Earth and the fastest coaster in the country to check it out.

Mind you, neither of us had any intentions of stepping foot in its queue, let alone riding the beast. Sure, we’ve conquered many a rival coaster, the tallest and fastest to date being Intimidator 305 at King’s Dominion last summer.

A quick Kingda Ka tutorial: it is a launch coaster that reaches speeds of 128 miles-per-hour in 3 seconds, which catapults the train straight-up to a height of 456 feet. It can be seen for miles, with some people claiming they have seen while boating on the Atlantic Ocean, which has to be at least 20 miles away.

It is a truly terrifying green goliath, and yes, is the tallest coaster in the world and the fastest coaster in the United States.

I’ve gone on record several times saying I would never ride it, not even for a million dollars in cash. 

But “I” wanted to ride it.

No doubts, no question, no hesitation: “I want to ride Kingda Ka.”

“N” and I hemmed and hawed, and after observing three of the ride’s cycles, we weren’t yet sold on crossing this behemoth off our coaster list.

I looked down at “I,” so impressed with his courage, and I realized I was being a baby. A chicken. A nincompoop.

What the hell did I have to lose? It was the kid’s birthday, for crying out loud, and it was time I walked the talk I so often use when encouraging others and believe in myself.

“Okay,” I nodded. “Let’s do this.”

“N”’s eyes bulged with disbelief, but then said that since I was riding it, he would, too.

Then we kept asking each other if we were really doing this on the walk through the queue.

“Yes! You are!” “I” kept exclaiming, pushing us from behind closer to the line with every hesitation.

Less than five minutes later, “I” and I were seated in Row 2 with “N” behind us in Row 3, all of us buckeled and strapped in for the ride.

Shit. Shit. Shit. 

The train pulled away from the station, then paused on the track to wait for the blast-off.

Shit. Shit. Shit. 

There was no going back.

I closed my eyes and held onto the handle in front of me for dear life. I cringed at the sound of the hydraulics signaling that launch was imminent. 

Pause.

Shit.

Pause.

Shit.

Pause. 

Then, HOLY SHIT.

Blast off.

My cheeks spread like icing from the front of my face onto the sides of my head, and we were halfway up the climb before I even knew it. I heard “N”s screams quickly change from “Oh, my God!” to “We’re doing it! We’re doing it!”

I opened my eyes just as we reached the top and looked down.

We WERE doing it! 

My shrieks of fear turned into squeals of excitement. “We did it! We did it!” I cried through my laughter and my tears as we returned to the station safe and sound less than a minute after our initial catapult.

However, we were different people than the ones who pulled away from the station.

We conquered Ka, dammit! The three of us, together, did something I never imagined we’d do, and the fact we did it together… well, it was just perfect.

On the walk out of the queue, I thanked “I” for showing me what courage is and for making me brave.

I bought us all matching shirts and magnets to honor our wild accomplishment, and “N” purchased an ornament for me to mark the occasion when we did the impossible, a symbol of victory that will forever be the centerpiece of my Christmas tree.

A nine-year-old taught me I never have to fear anything ever again.

We freaking rode Kingda Ka.

Sidebar: later that evening, the area in and around Six Flags Great Adventure suffered severe weather, including two confirmed tornados, and the park has not opened since. My thought are with those who were impacted by the weather.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Ka’s Vanquish” was posted on jillocone.com on April 5, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

One name: Anthony Volpe.

You may not know him yet, but you will.

The 21-year-old New Jersey native’s persistence and heart were second-to-none during spring training, and the big question was whether he’d make the roster or be sent back down to the minors.

Yankees fans waited for the announcement with bated breath, and on Sunday, we finally learned his fate:

Anthony Volpe was named the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees.

He made the freaking roster!

Volpe will be the youngest player to start for the Bronx Bombers on opening day since Derek Jeter. He beat out veterans Isiah Kiner–Falefa and Oswaldo Peraza for the position, his powerful talent and immense potential giving him the edge.

He’s humble and authentic, his stats stellar, his heart and enthusiasm contagious. and, man, is he a fun player to watch!

Many of my students who are fellow Yankees fans and I have watched Volpe rise through the ranks. We admire his passion for baseball, which is like that of an old-fashioned player, and that he plays for the game, not for fame or glory.

His professional approach to his baseball career and his dedication to improving his abilities is something I admire. He is already a positive role model to the younger generation, and there’s no telling how many more people he will inspire both on and off the diamond.

Volpe was born in Watchung, New Jersey on April 28, 2001. He attended Delbarton School in Morristown (NJ) and Perfect Game named him the 2019 New Jersey HIgh School Player of the Year. While he committed to Vanderbilt University, The Yankees selected Volpe in the first round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft (30th pick). 

Since then, he has played for minor-league affiliates Pulaski Yankees, Tampa Tarpons, and Hudson Valley Renegades. In 2022, he moved up to the Double-A Eastern League Somerset Patriots, where he hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning giving the Patriots a 6-5 win against the visiting Hartford Yard Goats on June 26. Volpe represented the American League at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game in July. He batted .252 with 18 home runs and 60 RBIs in 109 games as a Patriot and was promoted to the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on September 2.

Earlier this week, the former non-roster spring training invitee and Number 1 prospect in the Yankees organization received the 2023 James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the most outstanding Yankees rookie in spring training, the first of many honors no doubt.

That’s how he does it. All heart and hustle.

There’s no doubt Anthony Volpe’s name will become as recognizable as both Jeter’s and Judge’s. I cannot wait to watch him grow into his greatness and witness the birth of another legendary career this season as I wear #11 with pride.

Way to go, kid!

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Volpe’s Value” was posted on jillocone.com on March 29, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.