DJ LeMahieu expects to start rehab assignment for Yankees
LeMahieu (bruised foot) anticipates 'Thursday or Friday' after starting season on IL
DJ LeMahieu is inching closer to a New York Yankees return.
LeMahieu says he expects to start his rehab assignment “Thursday or Friday,” according to YES Network Yankees clubhouse reporter Meredith Marakovits.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been providing periodic updates on his utility infielder throughout the month of April. Boone alluded to the fact LeMahieu, who traveled with the team on their ongoing six-game road trip against the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays, would start his rehab assignment and play in games once the Yankees returned home to Yankee Stadium.
The 35-year old former two-time batting champion – 2016 with the Colorado Rockies and 2020 with New York – started the 2024 regular season on the IL with a bruised foot. LeMahieu, who currently remains on the 10-day IL retroactive to the start of the season, fouled a ball off his foot back on March 16 during spring training and has been sidelined ever since.
LeMahieu has continued working out with the team. Drills include lateral movement, taking batting practice, and running and fielding ground balls.
New York is off to a 12-5 start and currently in first place in the American League East, so there would be no rush on inserting LeMahieu once he is fully rehabbed and ready to go. General Manager Brian Cashman, Boone and the Yankees have primarily used LeMahieu at third base during his tenure with the Yankees, but Oswaldo Cabrera (13 games) has received a bulk of the work at the hot corner during the first few weeks.
Cabrera – .292/.346/.521/.867, including three home runs, 12 RBI, four walks in 52 plate appearances – is off to a scorching start, easily the best of his career. LeMahieu has also seen time at second base and first base, positions currently occupied by everyday players Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo – a slow start from 2022 AL Most Value Player Aaron Judge notwithstanding.
Torres (.209/.299/.239./.538), who has yet to hit a home run this season, has certainly struggled out of the gate; Rizzo (.258/.338/.333/.671) has remained a steady presence. Boone will have the opportunity to provide LeMahieu necessary at-bats without the needed pressure on him to produce immediately once he completes his rehab assignment and returns to the big club.
