DJ LeMahieu feels ready to begin a rehabilitation mission, but the doctors do not.
After a follow-up MRI exam Thursday night, plans to start playing games Friday were pushed back a few days, likely until Tuesday.
LeMahieu, 35, has been on the shelf since March 16 when he fouled a ball on his right foot and suffered a non-displaced fracture.
The initial expectation was that he would start playing with Double-A Somerset this weekend.
“A few doctors just didn’t feel comfortable yet,” he said before the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Rays in the Bronx. “No, it’s not a setback. I feel ready to go, ready to go out and compete in some games. It shouldn’t last too long, I suppose.
The veteran infielder attempted to play through a right foot injury late in the 2022 season, but it ended up limiting him early last year.
LeMahieu ended up slashing .243/.327/.390 with a .718 OPS.
“They want him to come through the weekend,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s doing great and I know he feels ready to go, but the foot specialist just came in, wanting to make sure everything is 100 percent. He’s close to that now, so we have to just being conservative with this thing… They feel like he’s ready to go and play, but like we’ve talked about from the beginning, we’re not playing with this at all. back and ready to go. That’s the most important thing.
LeMahieu was able to do everything from batting practice to running and fielding grounders. He will continue to do so over the weekend.
“I’m frustrated, but I’m ready to go,” he said.
One positive is that Oswaldo Cabrera did replace LeMahieu at third base. He was one of the Yankees’ best players, posting an .895 OPS with three home runs and 13 RBIs.
“We’re playing really well,” LeMahieu said. “I just want to be a part of it.”
New York Post
