PHILADELPHIA — DJ LeMahieu has quickly gone from a practice field player trying to get out of a slump to a late-game replacement.
The Yankees veteran infielder was benched for the fourth straight game on Monday, pinch-hitting for Ben Rice in the eighth inning against left-hander Gregory Soto in a 14-4 win over the Phillies.
Oswaldo Cabrera started all three games at third base against the Red Sox over the weekend, but newly acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. made his first career start at third base on Monday, hitting two home runs and looking like he was in control.
LeMahieu, who appeared in all three games for Boston as Rice’s defensive replacement, is expected to be back in the starting lineup Wednesday when the Yankees face off against left-hander Chris Sanchez.
But outside of that, his chances seem to be dwindling.
“I think it was definitely a tough situation for him,” manager Aaron Boone said before Monday’s game. “Obviously, you never know what’s going to happen in the next 24 hours, but we had a left-hander on Wednesday and we’re going to use him there and then we’ll have some matchups after that where he’ll have an opportunity to get back in.”
“His glove off the bench, his versatility, that’s really important. And then there’s the fact that the guy’s a great hitter. He’s working through some issues. I don’t want to close the door on him being able to work through those issues.”
The 36-year-old LeMahieu, who has two years and $30 million remaining on his contract after this season, was batting .176 with a .490 OPS in 45 games as of Monday.
After missing the first two months of the season with a broken foot, Chisholm struggled for long stretches and the Yankees acquired him in a trade and decided to use him at third base, a position he had never played professionally until Monday.
Luis Gil appeared as energetic as ever when he stopped by Boone’s office at Fenway Park on Saturday to let the manager know he was still in good spirits.
The rookie right-hander gave up three runs and struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings against a powerful Phillies lineup, and manager Boone called him “amazing” and outperforming the lineup.
What about Saturday’s meeting with Gill and Boone?
“I told him I’m ready for a long season — a full season,” Gil said through a translator.
The Yankees designated Jamai Jones as the replacement on Monday as they await Giancarlo Stanton’s return from the disabled list.
Jones, whose minor league option had expired, was with the Yankees from the start of the season, but he had few opportunities to play off the bench.
The 26-year-old infielder/outfielder batted .238 with a .685 OPS in 33 games, but only 10 of those were starts.
Still, the energy he brings has many admirers in the clubhouse, and if he isn’t designated for assignment, there’s a chance he’ll remain with the Triple-A team.
The Yankees signed right-handed pitcher Gage Zeale from the University of Miami with a fourth-round draft pick on Monday.
Their only unsigned draft pick is currently 20th rounder Cole Royer, a high school pitcher from Georgia.
