DJ LeMahieu is set to play again this weekend as he continues his rehab assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots. After a 3-for-3 performance in his first game back, including a home run, LeMahieu played five innings Thursday and told a Somerset reporter that he is scheduled to play again Saturday and Sunday.
He also said there is no timetable for his return to the big leagues yet.
The Yankees could desperately use LeMahieu’s right-handed bat if he’s healthy and back to his former self.
The 36-year-old infielder is recovering from a left calf strain he suffered during the first spring training game he tried to play in this year.
This injury marks the latest in a series of setbacks that have hindered his performance in recent years.
A two-time batting title champion, LeMahieu has appeared in 203 games, slashing .232/.311/.352 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs over the last two seasons. That works out to an 84 OPS+, well below league average.
His struggles and injuries have raised questions about his future with the team.
LeMahieu is in the fifth year of a six-year, $90 million contract signed in 2021. With one year left after this season, the Yankees need to get some production from him. They had hoped he would win the starting third base job this spring, alleviating the need for them to acquire a third baseman.
With him out, Oswaldo Cabrera has taken a majority of the starts at third base. They have Oswald Peraza and Pablo Reyes backing him up. The Yankees value Cabrera as a utility player, and neither Peraza or Reyes has played well enough to be considered options.
