DETROIT – DJ LeMahieu is back with the Yankees.
Well, not officially. However, the infielder was on the field at Comerica Park for pregame activities ahead of Monday’s series-opener against the Tigers. LeMahieu resides in nearby Birmingham, Michigan, which is where the Yankees are staying for their three-game series against Detroit.
Aaron Boone said that LeMahieu will work out with the team through the end of the series. The manager added that the plan is for LeMahieu to begin a rehab assignment on Friday.
Boone wasn’t sure which affiliate LeMahieu will suit up for.
DJ LeMahieu is in Detroit with the #Yankees. He could start a rehab assignment Friday. pic.twitter.com/LfjjLuIuW2
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 7, 2025
LeMahieu is working his walk back from a left calf strain that he suffered in spring training. The 36-year-old has not played in a big league game since Sept. 3, 2024, as a hip impingement ended his season prematurely and kept him out of the playoffs.
Prior to that, LeMahieu endured the worst season of his career, slashing .204/.269/.259 with just seven extra-base hits, two home runs, 26 RBI and a 52 wRC+. He only played in 67 games after breaking his foot on a foul ball in spring training.
Despite some steady decline over the last few years, LeMahieu, owed $30 million between this season and next, entered camp this year as a candidate to be the Yankees’ third baseman. He said he hoped to put his injuries and poor performance behind him, but his calf issue popped up several days later.
“I definitely lost a lot of sleep,” LeMahieu said on Feb. 18. “It’s tough to be a guy that the team can’t rely on at times. I always take pride in that, so to not be able to do that, it’s definitely frustrating. But at the same time, I haven’t lost my passion for helping this team and my passion for this team. So that keeps me going.”
With LeMahieu out, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza have mainly manned third base for the Yankees. It’s unclear how LeMahieu would factor into the team’s plans once he completes a rehab assignment, which can’t last longer than 20 days for a position player.
LeMahieu can also play first and second.
A Difficult Choice
With their bullpen short and Brent Headrick fresh off a two-inning, 36-pitch appearance on Sunday, the Yankees decided to take advantage of the lefty’s minor league option. In other words, they demoted Headrick despite him having a 0.00 ERA over 5.1 innings this season.
Boone called the decision “very difficult,” but added, “there’s a big role to be had here for him, especially if he keeps pitching this way.”
Adam Ottavino re-signed with the Yankees and took Headrick’s place, giving the pen some cover in Detroit.
Hamilton Expected Tuesday
Boone said the expectation is that Ian Hamilton (infection) will be activated on Tuesday. However, Boone wanted to see how the reliever got through Monday.