With 13 days right until the scheduled Opening Working day sport at Washington, the Yankees do not know if they will have All-Star 2nd baseman DJ LeMahieu back again from the injury checklist.
As with pitcher Luis Cessa, LeMahieu examined beneficial for COVID-19 before spring training 2. opened final week and has been quarantining at property. Until they each individual pass ingestion tests at Yankee Stadium, neither can commence performing out.
Not owning LeMahieu — a three-time All-Star who has gained a few Gold Gloves at next foundation and completed fourth in past year’s AL MVP voting following hitting .327 with 26 homers and 102 RBIs — would be a major blow to the Yankees lineup. No matter of who manager Aaron Boone performs at second, he won’t be LeMahieu in the area or at the plate.
Prior to Thursday night’s intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium, Boone was encouraged about in which LeMahieu, who turns 32 Monday, was bodily but resolved the possibility of needing a fill-in.
“DJ, as a lot as any participant, I am going to experience fantastic about where by he is at — how significantly he usually takes treatment of himself and is completely ready to go. If everyone can handle remaining out at the get started of camp, it may possibly be DJ,’’ Boone said on a Zoom contact. “He labored tirelessly in the course of the quarantine down in Tampa. He was prepared to go, and he does not experience ill. It is not a little something that has wiped him out. I do feel very good about the participant remaining capable to choose up as soon as it is time for him to appear back again.’’
When that is, of class, is mysterious. It’s not likely the Yankees would go Gleyber Torres from shortstop back to next right after grooming him to be Didi Gregorius’ substitution at quick, a position Torres played in the insignificant leagues and in 77 video games (73 starts off) a year in the past when Gregorius was out.
Before LeMahieu examined constructive, Tyler Wade figured to make the 30-guy roster due to the fact he is able to participate in shortstop, second, 3rd base, in the outfield and give speed as a pinch runner. Now, the 25-yr-old remaining-hand-hitting Wade could be the next baseman until eventually LeMahieu returns.
“We have a ton of self esteem in Tyler, particularly how he will impact the recreation defensively there,’’ Boone claimed of Wade, who has performed next in 59 big-league games but hasn’t hit (.197 in 109 online games) in restricted enjoying time.
Boone didn’t halt with Wade, who would show up to be the frontrunner for LeMahieu’s spot.
“We have a lot of self esteem in Thairo Estrada, Rosell Herrera clearly amazed us with the spring he experienced, and we introduced in Matt Duffy, who could figure into that blend, an established big-league participant,’’ Boone explained.
Estrada is the only one of the 3 on the 40-guy roster.
“We come to feel like we have alternatives there if we did have to commence the season with out DJ,’’ Boone mentioned.
The 29-12 months-old Duffy is intriguing due to the fact, when healthful, the suitable-hand-hitting infielder has been effective. Nonetheless, exterior of 2015 with the Giants (.295 BA) and 2018 as a Ray (.294), Duffy has been restricted by accidents but still is a profession .282 hitter with a .338 on-foundation share.
He played 91 video games in 2016 and skipped all of 2017 with an Achilles tendon problem. Previous season he played 46 games for the Rays and signed a minor league deal with the Rangers in the offseason. He is in Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee. Of the 452 video games Duffy has played in the majors, 377 of them have been at 3rd and 18 (12 starts) at next.
As for Wade, he just desires to play a ton much more than he has considering the fact that reaching the major leagues in 2017.
“I am planning each individual day to play each working day, no matter if it is small, next or where ever it is going to be,’’ Wade stated just before starting at quick for the Yankees squad Thursday evening. “Unfortunately, DJ is not here, and there is a emptiness. I am obtaining my reps all above the infield and all about the outfield. Ideal now I am well prepared to play just about every working day and whatsoever they will need me to do.’’
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