NEW YORK — Again in March, the New York Yankees had been resolute that DJ LeMahieu would bat leadoff in entrance of Juan Soto and Aaron Decide. They had been assured that the two-time batting champion would rebound from three subpar, injury-plagued seasons.
4 months later, after battling a serious foot harm and nearly day by day struggles on the plate, LeMahieu is way from the table-setter the Yankees envisioned. He was on the bench Sunday towards the Tampa Bay Rays, with Oswaldo Cabrera getting the beginning at third base.
LeMahieu, within the fourth 12 months of a six-year deal value $90 million, has been one of many worst-hitting common gamers within the majors since rejoining the Yankees in late Could and has just lately been New York’s No. 9 hitter, on the backside of a lineup determined for regular manufacturing past Soto and Decide.
LeMahieu, 35, entered Sunday batting .177 with a .471 on-base plus slugging share in 39 video games.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned earlier than Sunday’s sport that LeMahieu might be out of the lineup subsequent week as properly.
“We’ll see,” Boone mentioned. “Get through today, and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Boone hinted Friday that LeMahieu wouldn’t begin Sunday’s collection finale. However Boone then mentioned Saturday that he believed LeMahieu has “earned” the fitting to play by a stoop that has lasted two months.
“It sucks. It’s not fun,” LeMahieu mentioned. “I will say our team’s a special team. Showing up with a special team, a special group keeps me going, for sure.”
LeMahieu has been even worse over the previous month, slashing .156/.250/.203 with three extra-base hits. The efficiency has drawn scorn from followers who showered him with boos each Friday and Saturday, when he went a mixed 0-for-7 with two strikeouts.
“I mean, it hasn’t given me much hope the last month or so,” LeMahieu mentioned. “As long as I’ve played this game, whatever challenge has presented itself, I’ve always come out of it, one way or another. So it’s just keep showing up and keep working and it’s gotten me a lot of success in my career.”
LeMahieu missed the primary month of the season with a fracture in his proper foot after he fouled a pitch off the foot throughout a spring coaching sport in March. However simply as he has executed since becoming a member of the Yankees, LeMahieu insisted Sunday that he’s wholesome.
“I feel good,” he mentioned. “I feel good enough to do my job.”
The manufacturing hasn’t been adequate for a membership with championship aspirations in a battle for the American League East title with the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees are exploring upgrades at third base, amongst different areas, earlier than the July 30 commerce deadline, in keeping with league sources.
“I’m not going to speak on that,” LeMahieu mentioned. “But I know I definitely want to add as many good players as we can because, like I said, we got a special group.”
