During the MLB lockout, Aaron Boone can’t talk to anyone on the Yankees’ 40-man roster.

So he isn’t able to get an update on how Aaron Hicks was feeling during his stint playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic as he comes back from wrist surgery, or text with other players about how their offseasons are going.

But Boone is allowed to communicate with minor leaguers who aren’t on the 40-man, which is why he’s been able to see the shortstop many consider the organization’s top prospect, Anthony Volpe, several times at events over the past few months.

The 20-year-old Volpe was the 30th overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft and has so far lived up to expectations.

“I remember when he signed with us,” Boone said of the former Delbarton star being at Yankee Stadium two years ago. “It was a rainy, crappy day in New York and he and his family came down. I remember hearing about all his intangibles: ‘This guy’s a great leader and makes everybody better around him.’”