DJ LeMahieu close to return from injury as Yankees prepare for postseason

DJ LeMahieu’s return to the Yankees remains uncertain, but manager Aaron Boone suggested Saturday it could happen sooner than initially anticipated.

According to Greg Joyce of New York PostBoone revealed that LeMahieu has resumed light baseball activities, including hitting off a tee in recent days, a step forward for the two-time batting champion who has been sidelined since early September.

Boone’s Cautious Optimism

Two weeks ago, Boone expressed doubts about LeMahieu returning before the regular-season finale on Sept. 29. While he didn’t rule out the possibility, Boone tempered expectations, saying, “I wouldn’t count on it.” Now, with LeMahieu’s progress, there is renewed hope that he could play in a game before the postseason.

LeMahieu was abruptly placed on the injured list earlier this month with a nagging hip strain. His absence has been a blow to the Yankees’ lineup as the team has struggled with depth and consistency in his absence.

With a spot in the postseason already secured, the Yankees’ magic number to secure home-field advantage has dropped to four, helped by the Orioles’ loss to the Tigers on Saturday night. LeMahieu’s potential return could be just the right boost for a team looking to gain momentum heading into October.

LeMahieu entered the 2024 season as the Yankees’ expected regular starter, but his year took a sharp turn in spring training. A broken bone in his right foot, sustained in a foul ball, derailed his season, and he has struggled to regain his form since.

In 67 games this season, LeMahieu posted a disappointing .204 batting average with an OPS of .528, well below career norms. His inability to produce offensively limited his impact on the Yankees’ season.

Despite the struggles, LeMahieu had a special moment July 31 in Philadelphia. He hit a grand slam and had a career-high six RBIs in a 6-5 victory over the Phillies. Unfortunately, that performance proved to be the exception in a frustrating season.

At the time of his July heroics, LeMahieu had already lost his third base position to recently acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. With the recent return of Anthony Rizzo and Jon Bertie from the injured list, LeMahieu’s chances of seeing regular playing time have diminished even further.

LeMahieu last appeared on Sept. 3 against the Rangers, where he started as a first baseman and made a costly error in the eighth inning, losing a high-bouncing fly ball into the spotlight. The error contributed to Texas’ late comeback in the Yankees’ 7-4 loss.

Now that LeMahieu is back in form, the Yankees are hoping his experience and versatility will prove helpful as they prepare for the postseason.

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