DJ LeMahieu’s frustration mirrored that of Yankees fans on Saturday when he exited a game with left calf pain. Speaking to NJ.com’s Randy Miller, the infielder admitted his initial reaction was disbelief: *“Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of sick joke?”* While the injury is very real—LeMahieu will undergo an MRI to assess severity—the 36-year-old isn’t letting setbacks define him. Though he acknowledges he’ll likely miss Opening Day, retirement isn’t on his mind. *“I’m definitely very confident in myself,”* he said. *“But at the same time, I keep getting [body] blows. That’s discouraging.”*
Since 2022, injuries have derailed LeMahieu’s once-stellar career. A toe issue late in 2022 sidelined him for the playoffs and triggered a decline at the plate. In 2023, foot and lower-body problems led to a career-worst .243 average and .711 OPS. Last year, a fractured foot and hip impingement limited him to a .204 average in 67 games—a far cry from his 2020 MLB-leading .364 average and 1.011 OPS.
With two years and $30 million left on his contract, LeMahieu entered camp competing with Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza for the starting third base job. But his latest injury revives questions about the Yankees’ infield plans. Fans have clamored for a trade for Cardinals star Nolan Arenado, who fueled speculation by making a surprise three-hour trip to Tampa for a spring training game. Arenado, owed $72 million over three years, would be a pricey but impactful replacement. For now, the Yankees—and LeMahieu—hope this latest setback isn’t the final blow.
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