MLB
TAMPA — DJ LeMahieu’s availability for Opening Day is instantly in jeopardy.
The Yankees’ veteran third baseman has a “fairly important bone bruise” on his proper foot, supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned Monday, two days after LeMahieu smoked a foul ball off of it.
X-rays and a CT scan had been destructive, and LeMahieu noticed a foot specialist on Monday for a hands-on analysis that was “encouraging,” Boone mentioned.
However whether or not LeMahieu would have sufficient of a runway to get again in time for Opening Day on March 28 in Houston was not instantly sure.
“We’ll see,” Boone mentioned Monday at Steinbrenner Discipline after a 4-3 win over the Phillies. “We’re going to take heed to the foot. I hope so. It’s definitely cheap to suppose so. However I’m not going to take a position an excessive amount of on that. We’re going to take a look at it each couple days.”
The Yankees might deal with the scenario with additional warning contemplating it’s the similar proper foot that has given LeMahieu hassle in current seasons.
Late within the 2022 marketing campaign, he broke a bone in his huge proper toe and tore a ligament within the second toe, forcing him to overlook the playoffs that yr.
Then he spent the primary half of 2023 attempting to get his mechanics again on observe after that they had gotten out of whack, probably from attempting to compensate for the foot harm.
“It’s one of many causes that [the medical staff] and I’m on board with, you’re not taking part in via something initially,” Boone mentioned. “So if meaning lacking a day, so be it. We’re getting forward of ourselves. We’ll see.”
Coming off a wholesome offseason, LeMahieu had the Yankees inspired by what they had been seeing early this spring. Boone hoped to make use of the 35-year-old constantly because the leadoff hitter atop a lineup that was in want of revitalization, however for now, that progress has been halted in its tracks.
LeMahieu’s earlier points with the proper foot — his pivot foot in his swing — largely sapped his manufacturing on the plate. He didn’t start to seem like himself once more till the second half of final season.
“The factor is, I’m not going to have him taking part in via something initially,” Boone mentioned. “As a result of I really feel like that’s the place you begin compensating and then you definitely begin placing different elements of the physique and that foot even in jeopardy. I’ve been clear with DJ on that. So we’ll be treating it.
“He’s doing considerably higher than he was [Sunday] and the day earlier than. In order that’s all good. We’ll sort of re-evaluate it right here in all probability going into the [Wednesday] night time recreation or [Thursday] and see the place we’re at.”
If LeMahieu isn’t prepared to start out the season on time, the Yankees must discover a third baseman to take his place.
The primary choice may need been Oswald Peraza, however he’s already injured with a shoulder pressure. Oswaldo Cabrera is now the most certainly inside candidate, although the Yankees may want him to bounce across the diamond together with his defensive versatility.
Jahmai Jones and non-roster infielder Kevin Smith have additionally been vying for a bench job whereas the Yankees may additionally look externally for assist, particularly as different golf equipment trim their rosters within the ultimate week of camp.
“We’ll simply see,” Boone mentioned. “That’s a protracted strategy to go nonetheless. Everybody’s nonetheless within the combine in several methods. We’ll see, as a result of [LeMahieu] very properly might be there.”
LeMahieu has taken 27 at-bats this spring, however it stays to be seen when, or if, he’ll take one other one earlier than the common season begins. He had been scheduled to be a part of the Yankees’ contingent to play in Mexico Metropolis on the finish of camp, although that’s now unlikely.
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