ANAHEIM, Calif. — After a two-month delay, DJ LeMahieu finally appears ready to make his season debut.
The veteran Yankees infielder flew out west on Sunday night after completing a rehab assignment and is expected to be available to return from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday before the team opens its series against the Angels.
LeMahieu’s season was delayed after he was fouled by a ball on his right foot during a spring training game on March 16.
He was initially diagnosed with a bone bruise, but further tests after the swelling subsided revealed he actually had a fractured leg that was not displaced.
His first attempt at a rehab assignment lasted just one inning on April 23, when he voluntarily stopped pitching due to leg soreness and then took a week off before returning to form.
LeMahieu’s second rehab stint went smoothly, appearing in six games with no apparent issues, going four for 15 with five walks, and improving enough to play back-to-back games over the weekend with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu will be the Yankees’ starting third baseman, replacing Oswaldo Cabrera (and the injured Jon Bertie), who has been solid over the first two months of the season.
The Yankees will likely work LeMahieu back into full-time action gradually, but his addition would add depth to the Yankees’ lineup as he would bat seventh or eighth in the order.
LeMahieu could also give veteran Anthony Rizzo some time off at first base, as he has started 54 of the team’s first 55 games.
LeMahieu could also give second baseman Gleyber Torres, who has started 53 of 55 games, some rest at second base at times.
The soon-to-be free agent has been hitting well recently, batting .262 with a .756 OPS over his last 28 games and .289 with an .872 OPS over his last 14 games.
Torres’ defense remains a mixed bag, with some impressive plays but also seven errors, including a key one that led to four runs allowed in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Padres.
“After you make an error you have to fix it,” Torres said. “It’s a long season.”
According to Baseball Savant, Torres ranks 13th among second basemen in outs (2), but 17th with a Defensive Runs Saved minus-3.
“He made a lot of really good plays and he’s been playing really good now for a long time,” Boone said. “Obviously, he should have made that play.” [Sunday]”It’s not for a lack of effort or focus. He’s working hard and we’re trying to get him to be as consistent as possible.”
Robinson Cano is up next after Anthony Volpe extended his hitting streak to 19 on Sunday.
Cano had a 23-game hitting streak in 2012, tying Alex Rodriguez’s 23-game hitting streak set in 2007.
The only other streak longer than 23 consecutive games this century is Derek Jeter’s 25-game hitting streak in 2006.
