BALTIMORE — As Aaron Boone wrapped up his pregame press conference at Camden Yards on Tuesday, he revealed a new ache for DJ LeMahieu.
The infielder, four games into a rehab assignment for a calf strain suffered in spring training, received a cortisone shot for his hip on Tuesday. Boone said LeMahieu got the shot “preemptively,” as he’s been bothered by his hip in the past and “felt a little something maybe coming on.”
“Just wanted to knock it out, wanting to be proactive,” Boone added. “My sense, it was pretty minor. DJ’s always been so tough, and his way is just to kind of power through things and grind through things. And I think it’s him saying this is something that’s worked for him in the past when he’s had some issues. I think he just wants to make sure he gives himself the best runway to be successful.”
Boone hoped for LeMahieu’s rehab assignment to resume on Thursday or Friday. He began his assignment on April 22, thus starting a 20-day clock.
Good health has been hard to come by for LeMahieu over the last several years. Among other issues, the 36-year-old dealt with two significant foot injuries between 2022 and 2024. Two springs ago, he broke his foot on a foul ball. He returned to the lineup midseason, only to endure the worst campaign of his career.
LeMahieu slashed .204/.269/.259 with seven extra-base hits, two home runs, 26 RBI and a 52 wRC+ over 67 games. A hip injury then ended his season in September, and he missed the postseason before suffering his calf injury this past spring.
Now, another hip issue is nagging him.
With LeMahieu owed $30 million between this season and next, the Yankees have been unable to rely on his health and production. That’s led some to wonder if and when the Yankees will cut the two-time batting champ, but they planned on LeMahieu competing for the third base job this spring.
LeMahieu has only played second over four rehab games with Double-A Somerset thus far, though the plan was for him to play some third this week prior to the cortisone shot.
LeMahieu has hit well thus far on his assignment, slashing .600/.600/1.000 with one homer and three RBI.
“I know he feels good,” Boone said of his at-bats, “and so hopefully he continues to go that way and can get up here and help us.”
