DJ LeMahieu, once a reliable leadoff hitter for the New York Yankees, has fallen off the cliff as his age is getting the better of him. He missed initial two months of the 2024 season with foot injury. And his return made no difference on the Yanks offensive production.
The veteran third baseman is hitting a new career low this year. Despite growing chorus over his axing, the New York Yankees kept giving him chances until September 3. LeMahieu, who has been missing in action for a week, has now been placed on IL with a significant injury concern.
Did DJ LeMahieu Already Play His Last Game As A Yankee?
On Monday, the New York Yankees announced a series of roster moves with three weeks left on the regular season schedule. DJ LeMahieu, veteran third baseman, was placed on 10-day IL with right hip impingement. LeMahieu’s hip issue, which has been bothering him intermittently for a while now, worsened recently, prompting the team to take a cautious approach by placing him on the IL. The injury is reported to be a strain. And while the Yanks have not provided a specific timeline for his recovery, there is concern that he may not be able to return before the season ends, with manager Aaron Boone also acknowledging the uncertainty. Notably, the two-time batting champion has struggled to find his best form this year.
He owns a .204/.269/.259 slash line with a .527 OPS and his -1.7 bWAR is tied for second worst amongst MLB hitters. That being said, DJ LeMahieu, who still has two years left on his contract worth $30 million with the New York Yankees, is unlikely to be retained by the front office next off-season. His decline in the past couple of years has been concerning, and he is slowly becoming a liability for the team. Moreover, with Jazz Chisholm embracing the third baseman role effectively, LeMahieu’s services are no longer needed in the infield. That being said, for the remainder of the season, Jon Berti has been activated from IL to replace LeMahieu. Berti has been on IL since May due to a calf injury, and a setback during rehab further extended his timeline. Berti’s only played 17 games this season with a .273 average, one home run and 6 RBIs.
“This Is The Dream” Jasson Dominguez Relishes Yankees Call-Up
After a week of widespread backlash, the New York Yankees met fans’ demand to promote top prospect Jasson Dominguez to the big league. Duke Ellis was optioned back to Triple-A to make space for Jasson. Notably, the kid was expected to be inducted at the roster expansion on September 1. However, the Yanks’ plan differed then.
But better late than never, as Jasson Dominguez gets to relive his dream once again. “This is a dream. Since I started playing, I want to play in the big leagues,” Jasson Dominguez said. Notably, The Martian had already made his major league debut last year in September. However, after 7 games, a UCL injury forced him into Tommy John surgery.
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