ANAHEIM, Calif. — DJ LeMahieu returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday in an unfamiliar spot: batting ninth.
In a sign of how deep and balanced the lineup has change into somewhat than what they consider LeMahieu, the veteran third baseman introduced up the rear Tuesday in his season debut within the collection opener towards the Angels.
“I wouldn’t change a complete lot with our offense proper now,” LeMahieu stated with a smile earlier than the sport at Angel Stadium. “However I’m trying ahead to it. I’m simply trying ahead to being a part of the lineup and lurk down there within the backside of the order.”
Although supervisor Aaron Boone had spoken this spring about wanting LeMahieu to be his leadoff hitter, that was earlier than the 35-year-old suffered a non-displaced foot fracture from fouling a ball off himself, which ended up costing him two months of the season, and earlier than Anthony Volpe entrenched himself on the prime of the lineup.
Nonetheless, the Yankees have been excited to lastly get LeMahieu again, making what has been one of many majors’ most efficient lineups even deeper — so long as he’s totally previous his foot difficulty.
“It’s been a very long time coming,” Boone stated. “I simply know the way a lot he’s wished to get again in there and be with these guys and be part of this. He’s already such an enormous a part of it, however I do know that getting him again within the lineup and the size he can add to our lineup is nice.”
Boone spoke to LeMahieu on Monday about batting ninth and was not shocked that he was prepared to do regardless of the group wanted.
“The unselfishness to fully not make it about him, which wasn’t shocking, is who he’s,” Boone stated. “An awesome instance to the remainder of the membership.”
Boone had huge expectations for LeMahieu this spring earlier than he went down with the damage, partly due to how the contact-oriented hitter was the healthiest he had been shortly.
LeMahieu had the top of his 2022 season derailed after breaking a bone in his huge proper toe and tearing a ligament within the second toe, which then affected his mechanics within the first half of 2023.
LeMahieu, who nonetheless has three years and $45 million left on his contract (together with this yr), was a shell of himself for the primary half of final season, batting simply .219 with a .286 on-base proportion and .643 OPS by his first 74 video games.
However within the second half — which additionally coincided with the arrival of recent hitting coach Sean Casey, who clicked nicely with LeMahieu — he began to look extra like himself.
Over his ultimate 62 video games, LeMahieu hit .272 with a .374 on-base proportion and .803 OPS.
“Only a constant, high quality at-bat,” Boone stated. “Elite defender. Defensive versatility, too, for that matter to have the ability to play a couple of positions alongside the infield. However only a constant presence. With the best way the fellows are swinging the bat as a gaggle, an opportunity to essentially make it an extended lineup.”
LeMahieu, who owns a profession .354 on-base proportion, might change into one more table-setter if he can get on base recurrently in entrance of Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Choose out of the nine-hole.
“I’d have somewhat been taking part in with them, however clearly it’s been a particular begin to the season,” LeMahieu stated. “Simply trying ahead to being a part of it.”
The one different time LeMahieu had hit ninth within the Yankees’ lineup got here in his first two video games with the group in 2019.
Quickly sufficient, he supplanted Brett Gardner because the common leadoff man.
However he additionally hit ninth 27 occasions with the Rockies, so it’s not fully unfamiliar.
As for his bodily situation, LeMahieu stated he had no points on his rehab project and was “able to go.” Boone stated he may play LeMahieu all three video games of this collection earlier than giving him an off day Friday in San Francisco.
“See how he’s responding and we’ll hearken to his physique and see what we’re taking a look at,” Boone stated. “I plan on [him], if nothing else, being common.”
