Yankees' DJ LeMahieu Making Progress From Foot Injury, Could Play in Games Soon

The Yankees' veteran infielder took on-field batting practice on Friday.

Mar 8, 2024; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (26) hits an rbi / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

One of the New York Yankees' most important players is working his way back.

Team manager Aaron Boone provided an encouraging update on infielder DJ LeMahieu, who is currently recovering from a fractured right foot. According to beat reporter Bryan Hoch, Boone believes that the 35-year-old All-Star can see in-game action fairly soon (likely a minor league rehab assignment), although he's not quite ready yet at the moment.

DJ LeMahieu is with the team in New York and took on-field batting practice yesterday. He’s not quite ready to resume playing in games, but Aaron Boone said he believes that can happen soon.

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) April 6, 2024

Before the Yankees played their home opener on Friday, LeMahieu took batting practice at Yankee Stadium; he is also taking ground balls, but hasn't begun side-to-side fielding or baserunning yet. Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News also reported that LeMahieu is encouraged by his progress and should have a better idea of a timetable by the end of the week.

DJ LeMahieu is here. He took BP yesterday. Hasn't done side to side fielding or baserunning yet. No target for a return yet but he's been encouraged and should have a better idea at the end of the week. #Yankees

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 6, 2024

LeMahieu has been somewhat of an afterthought to fans in the early season thanks to a red-hot start from Oswaldo Cabrera; the Yankees have also been very active in looking for depth, as they traded for Jon Berti the day before Opening Day and signed Rougned Odor to a minor league deal on Friday.

Nonetheless, the return of LeMahieu would be a great reinforcement to the Yankee lineup, which has been potent yet inconsistent to start the year. The Bronx Bombers are off to a highly encouraging 6-2 start, but early slumps from several key hitters such as Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and especially Giancarlo Stanton have made the lineup dependent on Juan Soto's impact bat and the scorching-hot Anthony Volpe to produce runs. They were able to enjoy a 6-1 road trip to begin the year thanks to the lineup coming through in timely situations, but both losses so far have been shutouts, including a 3-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the home opener.

LeMahieu's upside is excellent, as he has fantastic bat-to-ball skills and good plate discipline to make him a reliable run producer and a fixture in the leadoff spot. While he has had trouble staying healthy over the past couple of seasons, his strong second-half performance in 2023 (a 126 OPS+ and eight homers) shows that the two-time batting champion is still a very potent hitter when at full strength.

If the Yankees can get LeMahieu back to full health at a reasonable date, they would not only receive a boon to a lineup already loaded with talent, but would also get stability that the batting order needs to maintain throughout the season.