DJ returns, batting in odd spot
ANAHEIM, Calif. — DJ LeMahieu returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday in an unfamiliar spot: batting ninth.
In an indication of how deep and balanced the lineup has become, rather than what they think of LeMahieu, the veteran third baseman brought up the rear Tuesday in his season debut, a 4-3 loss to the Angels.
“I wouldn’t change a whole lot with our offense right now,” LeMahieu said with a grin before going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. “But I’m looking forward to it. I’m just looking forward to being part of the lineup. I’ll lurk down there in the bottom of the order.”
While LeMahieu went hitless, his three outs were smoked off the bat with three flyouts at 101.7 mph, 99.5 mph and 97.2 mph, an encouraging sign moving forward.
“He looked really good,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Kind of embodied our night a little offensively. I thought he had four good at-bats, hit the ball [on] the barrel.”
Though Boone had spoken this spring about wanting LeMahieu to be his leadoff hitter, that was before the 35year-old suffered a non-displaced foot fracture from fouling a ball off himself, which ended up costing him two months of the season, and before Anthony Volpe entrenched himself at the top of the lineup.
Still, the Yankees were excited to finally get LeMahieu back, making what has been one of the majors’ most productive lineups even deeper — as long as
LeMahieu is fully past his foot issue.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Boone said. “I just know how much he’s wanted to get back in there and be with these guys and be a part of this. He is already such a big part of it, but I know that getting him back in the lineup and the length he can add to our lineup is great.”
Boone spoke to LeMahieu on Monday about batting ninth and was not surprised that he was willing to do whatever the team needed.
Anthony Volpe extended his career-high hitting streak to 20 games with a single in the second inning. It marked the longest hitting streak by a Yankee since Robinson Cano’s 23game streak in 2012.
Jon Berti is expected to miss six to eight weeks with his high-grade calf strain, the infielder said Tuesday, after suffering the injury busting out of the box on Friday night in San Diego.
Berti, who is in a walking boot, received a PRP injection Tuesday to help with the recovery.
Gerrit Cole threw a side session on Tuesday in Tampa and is scheduled to face hitters again on Thursday. If that goes well, he could begin a rehab assignment on June 4 . ... The Yankees activated Ian Hamilton off the COVID IL on Tuesday.