DJ LeMahieu’s Return to Yankees Delayed by Injury Setback
DJ LeMahieu seemed poised for a comeback with the New York Yankees ahead of his recent rehab game. The team held hope that the veteran infielder would soon rejoin them, pending any setbacks. However, LeMahieu exited Tuesday’s game prematurely due to discomfort in his right foot, as reported by Greg Joyce of the New York Post.
Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo commented on LeMahieu’s setback, expressing empathy for his teammate’s situation. “I know how much he loves this team, this clubhouse, the game, and how he was pushing to get back, so that’s tough,” Rizzo said.
“I’m going to text him and see how he’s doing. Obviously whenever you have a setback, it’s not fun. But it’s about getting healthy and getting him right.”
This setback is undoubtedly frustrating for LeMahieu, who has faced injury challenges impacting his performance in recent years despite being considered one of MLB’s better players.
At 35 years old, LeMahieu aims to maintain a high level of contribution in MLB, but injuries have posed a significant hurdle. While he managed to play in 136 games in 2023 compared to 125 in 2022, his performance has declined. Slashing just .243/.327/.390/.718 in 2023, LeMahieu, a three-time All-Star, still possesses the potential to make a positive impact but must find a way to stay healthy.
With LeMahieu yet to appear in the 2024 regular season, the timeline for his return has once again become uncertain.
