As the Yankees prepared for their series-opener against the Athletics on Monday, DJ LeMahieu readied himself for a trip to Reading, Penn.
The infielder, working his way back from a nondisplaced fracture in his right foot, is supposed to finally start a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. With the Patriots off on Monday, LeMahieu got some running and fielding in at Yankee Stadium.
DJ LeMahieu getting some work in before he starts his rehab assignment. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/TeGViAgzyL
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 22, 2024
LeMahieu previously said that he hopes to play in fewer than five rehab games, and his return to the Bronx this week has led to questions about how the Yankees will use him once he’s ready to be activated.
The versatile infielder was supposed to be the club’s everyday third baseman this season, but Oswaldo Cabrera has been thriving at the plate while manning the hot corner.
The 25-year-old, capable of playing just about every other position, was hitting .303/.338/.500 with three homers, 14 RBI and a 141 OPS+ prior to Monday’s game.
“You mean getting ahead a week from now?” Aaron Boone replied when asked how LeMahieu could impact Cabrera. “It’s a long way to go. So I look forward to hopefully having that problem. The biggest thing right now is Oswaldo is obviously playing a key role for us and doing a great job, and I’m excited about where DJ is health-wise and getting ready to go on that rehab assignment. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Cabrera is keeping a similar mindset.
“I mean, he’s not here yet,” he told the Daily News when asked about LeMahieu. “So for that reason, I’m just focusing on the present and focusing on the things that are happening right now on the field.
“I’m not focusing on what happened in the past. I’m not focusing on what’s coming. I’m just focusing on staying present.”
The reality is that Cabrera has earned everyday playing time a season removed from hitting .211 as the team’s left fielder. He and LeMahieu are versatile, though – the latter can also play first and second – so there should be opportunities for both.
“I’m just happy because DJ will be back in the lineup and we know all the things that DJ can do for us,” Cabrera said. “For that reason, I’m just happy because we’re gonna get that guy back, and he’s really a player that we need in the lineup, too.”
Cabrera isn’t the only player who could be affected by LeMahieu’s presence.
So far, Gleyber Torres hasn’t done much to warrant being a fixture in the lineup. The second baseman entered Monday’s game with a .200/.309/.225 slash line and a 59 OPS+. He’s yet to homer and was pulled from the leadoff spot after an early-season audition.
Boone has maintained that he’s not concerned about Torres, but the player acknowledged that “at some point, I have to figure out a way to start hitting really well.”
“I just trust the routine. I always worry,” Torres told The News. “I always want to do the right thing. I always want to hit really well. And I just worry about my career, worry about my numbers, for sure. I can’t lie. But it’s many months left. Maybe this month got me, for sure, but I have too many months to figure out a way.”
Like Cabrera, Torres noted that LeMahieu’s return is out of his control, so it’s not something he’s thinking about.
Torres also said that his impending free agency has not been having a negative impact on him. While the 27-year-old has stated that he wants to stick with the Yankees long-term, he said he’s only focused on breaking out of his slump.
“Not really,” Torres said when asked if the open market has been on his mind. “It’s too many months to get there.
“It’s a long season. Right now, I’m just figuring out a way to get better. Do the adjustments really quick, and I start hitting. That’s the best answer: I start hitting, helping the team more, and keep playing well.”
