As April wraps up, the New York Yankees are clinging to the top spot in the American League East with a 17-12 record, fueled largely by a powerhouse offense. Their .809 OPS leads all of Major League Baseball — the only team above the .800 mark — a testament to their offensive firepower.
They’ve managed to stay competitive despite being hit hard by injuries. Reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole is sidelined following Tommy John surgery, and Giancarlo Stanton continues to battle persistent issues in both elbows. And those are just the headline names on an extensive injury list.
One recent bright spot had been the potential return of D.J. LeMahieu, the 2022 Gold Glove third baseman. Out since spring training with a left calf strain, the 14-year veteran had been making solid progress on a rehab stint — going 6-for-10 with a home run.
But on Tuesday, the Yankees announced a new setback: LeMahieu is now dealing with a hip issue on top of the calf strain.
D.J. LeMahieu,
According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, LeMahieu received a cortisone shot in his right hip, a move manager Aaron Boone described as “preemptive” after the veteran “felt something coming on.” Boone added that the team is hopeful LeMahieu can return to minor league action later this week — possibly Thursday or Friday.
Still, cortisone shots typically indicate a more serious level of discomfort, and they require several days of recovery time regardless of the root cause. How LeMahieu responds over the next few days will be critical in determining if this latest setback delays his return even further.
The Yankees are watching closely — because with injuries piling up, they’ll need every healthy bat they can get.
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