DJ LeMahieu’s return to the New York Yankees lineup has been further delayed after he experienced soreness in his right foot during his first rehab game with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. The 35-year-old infielder exited the game after just one at-bat, and the soreness persisted the following day. LeMahieu underwent additional testing on Wednesday, but the results were not immediately available.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said LeMahieu took batting practice before Somerset’s game and felt the soreness when he took the field for defense. Cashman added that there was nothing specific that prompted the soreness, which materialized “all of a sudden.”
LeMahieu has not played for the Yankees since March 16, when he fouled a ball off his foot during a spring training game. Initial X-rays came back negative, but a follow-up MRI taken two weeks later revealed a non-displaced fracture in his right foot. LeMahieu started the season on the injured list with a right foot contusion, but he was expected to begin a rehab assignment last week.
However, a follow-up MRI prompted the Yankees to delay his rehab assignment until Tuesday. LeMahieu expressed frustration over the delay, but there was still optimism that his return was nearing.
LeMahieu’s return would be a welcome boost to the Yankees’ struggling offense. The team is currently ranked 29th in the league in runs scored, and LeMahieu is a career .298 hitter. He won the American League batting title in 2020 and has been a key part of the Yankees’ success in recent years.
The Yankees are hoping that LeMahieu’s soreness is just a minor setback and that he will be able to return to the lineup soon. However, the latest development is a reminder that injuries are always a concern for baseball players, and that even the best-laid plans can be derailed by an unexpected setback.
