Yankees will have to be patient with DJ LeMahieu return

The New York Yankees will be without their starting third baseman and leadoff hitter to start the 2024 regular season.

General manager Brian Cashman announced on Monday that DJ LeMahieu will start the season on the IL thanks to a bruised foot he suffered in spring training. LeMahieu took a foul ball to the foot on March 16. Now, he's expected to miss at least the first seven games of the season.

"It's a little bit slow go on the recovery side. He banged it up pretty good," Cashman said, per ESPN.

If there's any good news here for the Yankees, it's that LeMahieu underwent an MRI and CT scan on the foot last week and both tests came back negative. 

He's expected to have a follow-up MRI later this week, but it does sound like no matter what, the Yankees are electing to be patient with the veteran.

New York has two series on the road (at Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks) to start the season. If LeMahieu does come back soon, it won't be before New York's first home stand of the season.

Opening Day at Yankee Stadium will be on April 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

LeMahieu has been dealing with setbacks recently, suffering an injured right toe over the past two seasons. Still, he played in 136 games last season for the Yankees, hitting .243 with 15 home runs, 44 RBI and an OPS of .718.

The Yankees will lead off with second baseman Gleyber Torres against lefties and outfielder Alex Verdugo against righties in LeMahieu's absence.