WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – Trent Grisham was the intriguing figure on Sunday.
The Yankees find themselves in a bit of a beneficial predicament, with several players available who could easily start. They have a wealth of outfielders and designated hitters who are all performing well.
Players like Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, and Cody Bellinger are tough to bench, especially with Aaron Judge’s strong presence in the lineup.
If one of those players takes on the DH role, it complicates things by potentially sidelining Ben Rice from the lineup—unless he moves to first base, which would push out Paul Goldschmidt.
It’s not easy to justify removing Rice either, especially after he showcased his talent with a fifth Grand Slam, contributing to a decisive 12-2 victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
For instance, if the U.S. (who initially played and later collaborated with Tyler Matzek in Sunday’s nine innings) excelled at third base, it could resolve some issues. However, manager Aaron Boone indicated he hadn’t yet considered repositioning Rice.
At least not at this stage. With everyone healthy, Giancarlo Stanton’s return will further deepen the batting lineup.
“When we reach that point where we need to get a bit creative, we can,” Boone mentioned when asked about moving Rice or an outfielder to another position.
Boone appears content with the current roster. This effectively means that all players, except for Judge, can reasonably expect a day off now and then.
“So far, I think it’s been effective,” Boone stated. “Not only are these guys getting to play regularly, but they can also rest occasionally, which is helpful as the season progresses. I believe it will benefit us as we move deeper into the schedule.”
Rice looked energized while hitting his first career grand slam. The first baseman/DH/catcher values his versatility and finds ways to stay in the mix.
“Being flexible is important. You want to fit in wherever needed,” he remarked.
DJ LeMahieu had a 4-1 performance in what might be his last rehab game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Boone suggested that LeMahieu “could” be on the roster in Seattle as the team heads there on Monday.
Once activated, LeMahieu is anticipated to play primarily at second base. Boone said, “We’ll see” regarding the frequency of the 36-year-old, considering the injuries he has endured recently.
“I may not follow his every move, but I’ll be watching how he handles it,” Boone added. “I definitely see him as part of the overall plan.”
LeMahieu’s playing time hinges on his condition and performance. After dealing with significant injuries, he struggled last season, hitting .232 with a .663 OPS, but his rehab assignments were encouraging, despite some challenges like hip injections that Boone referred to as “first takes.”
In nine games with SWB and Double-A Somerset, LeMahieu registered 27 at-bats with a .444 average, including a home run and a double.
“Hopefully, he’s set up for a good chance to succeed,” Boone concluded.
Jonathan Loáisiga, recovering from elbow surgery, threw a scoreless inning in SWB and is slated to pitch again on Tuesday. Once his rehab assignment is complete, he should be able to pitch back-to-back outings next weekend.
“It’s a tentative plan for now,” said Boone about Loáisiga. “But we feel confident in his readiness.”
Boone noted it’s still uncertain when Stanton will begin his rehab assignments, but the strong hitters are making headway. After facing live pitching for the first time this year on Tuesday, Stanton has been running and working out with a high-speed trajectory machine.
“He’s been making significant progress this week,” Boone mentioned.
