DJ LeMahieu left a void at third base for New York Yankees this season as he went on injury list during spring with right foot fracture. He was hit by a foul ball and due to slow recovering ability, his first rehab stint was foiled.
Regardless, DJ LeMahieu increased his baseball-related activities this past week and commenced a second rehab assignment. If all things go well, the veteran third baseman could be reinstated as early as the upcoming West Coast trip. And Yankees manager Aaron Boone has apparently sketched an interesting return plan for DJ.
DJ LeMahieu To Replace Jon Berti, Oswaldo Cabrera At Third Base!
DJ LeMahieu, a cornerstone of the New York Yankees’ infield, is set to return from injury as early as the coming weekend. The veteran third baseman has been one of the most reliable and productive players since joining the team in 2019. While last year wasn’t happening for anyone, this season, DJ showed up with a renewed sense of purpose before a foot injury delayed his debut. Due to lower immunity, DJ took a little longer to recover, and it has been over 8-10 weeks since DJ had some game action. Regardless, LeMahieu finally commenced his second rehab assignment this week, and he is expected to play two back-to-back games before manager Aaron Boone reinstates him by the end of the week.
And interestingly, the New York Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, has revealed that DJ LeMahieu will directly step into the everyday role upon return. The veteran is expected to replace Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera to play as regular third baseman. Notably, Cabrera has been hot this season with a .256/.294/.383 slash line, four home runs, five doubles, and 20 RBIs. On the other hand, Berti just scored his first season home run on Sunday to contribute offensively. However, Boone understands the value LeMahieu brings not just in terms of performance but also leadership and experience. Hence, having him back will allow Boone to optimize the lineup and infield defense, enhancing the team’s overall performance. While the decision may be a little harsh on Cabrera and Berti, an opportunity for them will open up sooner or later in the season.
Yankees Option Injured Oswald Peraza To Minors
Promising shortstop Oswald Peraza picked up a shoulder injury during spring training, which ruled him out for 10 weeks. He lost his place on the roster and was forced to grind hard in the rehabilitation program. The young infielder commenced a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset Patriots and finished it this weekend without any setbacks.
However, due to a lack of space on the roster, the New York Yankees decided to option Oswald Peraza back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. While there is no space for Peraza now, the young and dynamic infielder can circle back in September when the roster expands. Until then, his minor league grind will be closely monitored by the Yanks and its coaching staff.
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