Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
Yankees sit struggling DJ LeMahieu — and it might be more than a one-off
By Greg Joyce,
1 day ago
Before this year, when DJ LeMahieu has struggled this badly at the plate, there has usually been an injury-related reason for it.
But the Yankees’ 36-year-old third baseman insisted Sunday he is fully healthy, despite batting just .177 with a .471 OPS through 39 games.
“I feel good,” LeMahieu said Sunday morning in The Bronx. “Feel good. Feel good enough to do my job.”
Aaron Boone gave LeMahieu a breather on Sunday against the Rays, though he only said “we’ll see” when asked whether it was a one-off or part of a few-day break for the scuffling veteran.
LeMahieu, who was hampered by a foot/toe injury for parts of the last two years, missed the first two months of this season after fouling a ball off his foot in March and suffering a non-displaced fracture.
Since returning, he has been a shell of his former self, sapped of the productivity he once offered at the plate as a two-time batting champion.
“Just trying to work through it,” LeMahieu said. “It just hasn’t been very consistent. I feel like I’m on to something and then kind of go backwards a little bit and then get on to something. The consistency hasn’t been there.”
Asked about his level of confidence that he could break out of this, LeMahieu softly chuckled.
“I mean, it hasn’t given me much hope over the last month or so,” he said. “But as long as I’ve played this game, whatever challenges presented themselves, I’ve always come out of it, one way or another. Just keep showing up, keep working. That’s gotten me a lot of success in my career.”
LeMahieu said this has been one of the most frustrating stretches of his career, sinking to a new low of late, going 0-for-17 over his last six games.
Oswaldo Cabrera started at third base on Sunday, going 2-for-4 in a 6-4 loss to the Rays , and the Yankees are expected to be in the market for a corner infielder ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.
But LeMahieu, who still has two years and $30 million left on his contract after this season, indicated he was just focused on himself.
“It sucks. It’s not fun,” he said. “But I will say, our team’s a special team, so showing up with a special team and a special group keeps me going, for sure.”
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0