HOUSTON — New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu has a non-displaced fracture above his right foot, manager Aaron Boone told reporters before Saturday’s game against the Houston Astros. LeMahieu has been on the injured list for 10 days and remains in Tampa, Fla., at the team’s spring training complex while he rehabs.
LeMahieu underwent a second MRI of his foot Friday after the swelling went down. Boone said LeMahieu needed an additional MRI because sometimes the swelling hides a potential break or fracture. LeMahieu will undergo additional imaging in two weeks so the team can get a better idea of how his foot is progressing. Initially, LeMahieu was diagnosed with a “fairly significant” bone bruise.
“It doesn’t change much,” Boone said. “It’s kind of a tolerance as it develops.” The last two days have been good. He hit in the cage (Friday). I know he feels much better. He’ll reimagine it in two weeks to see where he stands. But that shouldn’t stop him from progressing.
Boone said the Yankees won’t move LeMahieu until he’s 100 percent released. Two years ago, LeMahieu played with a fractured sesamoid bone in his right big toe that led to ligament damage in his second toe. His production at the plate plummeted, and it wasn’t until the second half of last season that LeMahieu returned to expectations in the batter’s box.
The Yankees aren’t giving a possible timetable for LeMahieu, but Boone hasn’t ruled out an April return. In the meantime, the Yankees will continue to use a combination of Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti as their third base options.
Through two games, Cabrera, along with Juan Soto, was one of the team’s best hitters. Cabrera changed his approach at the plate midway through spring, in part by watching Soto work in the batting cage. Berti, acquired from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, has yet to make his Yankees debut.
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(Photo by DJ LeMahieu: New York Yankees / Getty Images)