TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees faced a setback during their spring training as third baseman DJ LeMahieu sustained an injury to his left calf during his debut game. Playing as the designated hitter, LeMahieu suffered the injury during his second at-bat in what turned out to be a 9-3 victory for the Yankees over the Houston Astros.
Manager Aaron Boone addressed the situation, expressing concerns about LeMahieu’s medical history. “It’s not ideal, especially considering everything he’s had to navigate health-wise,” Boone explained to the press. “We’ll evaluate the situation to understand the severity of the injury. These soft tissue issues seem to recur with him, which is naturally concerning.”
This incident adds to the series of injuries the 36-year-old veteran has faced. Last season, LeMahieu was placed on the injured list due to a right hip problem. He also missed the beginning of the season after suffering a fracture to his right foot when hit by a foul ball in spring training. These issues restricted his participation in the previous season, limiting him to 67 games during which he recorded a .204 batting average, the lowest of his career, with only two home runs and 26 RBIs.
LeMahieu is in the midst of a six-year contract worth $90 million, which he signed in 2021, and was anticipated to be the Yankees’ primary third baseman. However, with this new injury potentially sidelining him, the team may look to Oswaldo Cabrera or Oswald Peraza to fill the gap at third base if LeMahieu’s recovery turns out to be a lengthy one.
