The New York Yankees have dealt with several key injuries this spring, particularly to veteran players. One of them, DJ LeMahieu, is closing in on a return. The 36-year-old has missed the entire season with a calf injury but is expected to join the team for their upcoming series in Seattle beginning Monday.
DJ LeMahieu Set To Return
According to Yankees beat writer Erik Boland, it remains uncertain whether LeMahieu will be in the lineup for the series opener in Seattle. Despite his veteran status and clubhouse presence, it’s unclear how much he’ll contribute offensively at this stage in his career.
Not yet clear if he’ll be in uniform tonight but DJ LeMahieu is en route to Seattle, scheduled to land later today
— Erik Boland (@eboland11)
Once a batting champion, LeMahieu has struggled in recent seasons with the Yankees. Last year, he appeared in just 67 games, hitting .204 with two home runs and 26 RBIs. He’s no longer the hitter he once was, but he could still provide value in a lineup that’s currently being carried by Aaron Judge.
It will be interesting to see where the Yankees deploy LeMahieu. Over his career, he’s played all around the infield, but with New York, he’s spent most of his time at first, second, and third base. Regardless of position, he’ll likely return to regular action once healthy.
Yankees Hoping To Keep the Pace in the AL East
The Yankees are 23–17 and currently sit atop the AL East. They hold a two-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in what’s shaping up to be a tightly contested division with all five teams vying for playoff spots.
The biggest difference-maker has been Aaron Judge, who is hitting at an all-time high. Through 40 games, Judge is batting .409 with 14 home runs and 39 RBIs. His OPS sits at a staggering 1.274, putting him firmly on pace for another MVP-caliber season.
While Judge has shown no signs of slowing down, the Yankees will need others to provide steady production if they hope to return to the World Series. So far, they’ve gotten solid contributions from Trent Grisham and Ben Rice, both of whom are enjoying breakout years. Additionally, Max Fried’s stellar pitching has helped stabilize the rotation—he’s off to the best start of his career.
Though this roster may appear a bit top-heavy, the Yankees have the potential to make another deep playoff run—especially if they stay healthy and return to full strength in the coming months. LeMahieu will almost certainly contribute to that in some way when he returns to the lineup.