Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu, two of the New York Yankees’ senior infielders, saw their 2024 season spoiled by injuries. While DJ missed two months with a foot injury, Rizzo fractured his arm following a collision with a Boston Red Sox reliever in mid-June and has been out of action ever since.
That being said, Anthony Rizzo is wrapping up his rehab assignment as of this writing and will board a flight to New York soon. While his return timeline is still uncertain, Rizzo’s activation could be bad news for his teammate DJ LeMahieu, who is covering first base in Anthony’s absence.
Anthony Rizzo’s Return From IL This Weekend Still On The Cards!
The New York Yankees find themselves in a precarious position as they navigate roster decisions with the potential return of first baseman Anthony Rizzo. The veteran first baseman has been out of action for two months due to an arm fracture injury. Interestingly, the first baseman’s rehab assignment got fast-tracked as he got to start at infield earlier than initially planned. The initial plan was to play Rizzo as DH for a week. But he made two starts at first base on Tuesday and Wednesday following doctor approval and reported no issues whatsoever. Hence, Anthony Rizzo will now travel to New York on Thursday and join the team before Aaron Boone led management takes a call on his reinstatement. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” said Boone.
Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo’s activation would lead to prospect Ben Rice’s demotion to minor leagues. However, Rice can still secure the place of a third backup catcher if the Yankees wish to keep him for a longer period. That being said, Rizzo’s return would also lead to a reduction in DJ LeMahieu’s playing time. DJ’s third base is secured by Jazz Chisholm Jr as he takes reps at first base against the lefties. However, LeMahieu’s numbers aren’t improving in the batter’s box. Prior to Wednesday, the veteran was hitting at just 149/.228/.194. While Rizzo’s pre-injury numbers weren’t great either, he is certainly a better option compared to LeMahieu. Given his declining performance and the New York Yankees’ need to optimize their roster for a final postseason push, DJ LeMahieu could find himself on the bench potentially for the rest of the 2024 MLB season.
Yankees Starting Pitchers Makes Progress In Rehab Stint
Meanwhile, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone informed media on Tuesday that Clarke Schmidt, suffering from lat strain, will probably need another rehab start after he pitched his second with Somerset Patriots. The Yanks aren’t satisfied with his progress and hence instructed him to ramp up a little more before returning to majors.
On the other hand, Luis Gil, suffering from a lower back sprain, will commence his rehab assignment in the next five days. He is currently placed on 15-day IL and pitched a live session on Tuesday. However, the Yankees rotation can only accommodate one starting pitcher and with Gil receiving preference for now, Schmidt could find himself in the bullpen momentarily.
Follow Sports News International for more news and updates about The New York Yankees and your favorite MLB team
