As April winds down, the New York Yankees are clinging to first place in the AL East with a 17-12 record, driven largely by a powerful offense that leads MLB with a .809 OPS—the only team currently above the .800 mark.
They’ve managed to stay competitive despite a wave of injuries, including the loss of 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery and ongoing elbow issues for designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton.
These are just two of several key absences. However, the team has reason for optimism with the possible return of 2022 Gold Glove third baseman D.J. LeMahieu, who has yet to play this season due to a left calf strain after missing all of spring training.
The 36-year-old D.J. LeMahieu, now in the fifth year of his six-year, $90 million deal, had been making encouraging progress on a rehab assignment, going 6-for-10 with a home run. However, the Yankees announced Tuesday that, in addition to his lingering calf strain, LeMahieu is now dealing with a new setback—a hip injury.
MLB.com’s Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch shared that D.J. LeMahieu received a cortisone injection in his right hip, with manager Aaron Boone calling the move “preemptive” after LeMahieu “felt something coming on.” Boone expressed hope that LeMahieu could resume minor league action by Thursday or Friday.
However, cortisone shots are typically reserved for more significant pain, and they generally require at least a couple of days for recovery—regardless of the underlying issue. By the end of the week, the Yankees should have a clearer picture of how LeMahieu has responded to the injection and whether this hip issue could lead to a longer absence.
