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New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu has not played a single game this season due to a foot injury he sustained in spring training, but the two-time batting champion could be close to making his return.
LeMahieu began a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on May 17, and while the Yankees do not have a concrete timetable for the slugger, manager Aaron Boone said that LeMahieu may be back on the field at some point during New York’s nine-game road trip from May 24 through June 2.
“We feel like he’s in a really good spot physically,” Boone said, via MLB.com. “Part of the reason it has taken a long time is because he and us are going to be absolutely committed to this thing not being an issue when he goes to play.”
Last month, LeMahieu appeared to be on his way to making a comeback, but he had a setback. The Yanks want to be sure that doesn’t happen this time around.
“We want him to check all the boxes as far as physically being able to move really well, physically being able to handle a heavy workload, a volume of swings and all that,” added Boone. “And by all accounts, he’s ready to go.”
LeMahieu has gone 2-for-3 with a couple of RBI and three walks in his last two minor-league rehab games.
How will DJ LeMahieu fit into Yankees’ lineup once he returns?
Even without LeMahieu, the Yankees are rolling, having won seven straight games to nab the American League’s best record at 33-15.
So, just where will LeMahieu fit into the scheme of things once he returns?
More than likely, LeMahieu—who is capable of playing multiple different infield positions—will spend most of his time at third base, as that is once area where New York may have a weakness. Oswaldo Cabrera has handled most of the action at the hot corner in 2024, and while he has done an admirable job defensively in spite of not being a natural third baseman, he has slashed .256/.294/.383 on the season. Jon Berti has also gotten some playing time at third.
LeMahieu’s bat has certainly slowed down over the last three years, with his best OPS since during that span being .734 in 2022. However, he is a good situational hitter and should still provide more offense at third base than the current duo of Cabrera and Berti.
The Yankees signed LeMahieu in January 2019, and in his debut campaign in the Bronx, he slashed .327/.375/.518 with 26 home runs and 102 RBI. He then won a batting title during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, hitting .364 and flashing a 1.011 OPS. He also won a batting title with the Colorado Rockies back in 2016, when he hit .348.
The 35-year-old spent the first eight years of his career with the Rockies before joining the Yanks.
LeMahieu owns a lifetime slash line of .292/.354/.415. He most recently slashed .243/.327/.390 with 15 homers and 44 RBI in 2023.
New York is currently sixth in the major leagues in batting average, second in OPS, second in home runs and fourth in runs scored.
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