New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu could make his way to the MLB injured list as he took a ball to the face during warmups before their game against the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees training staff will further evaluate him to see how long he will be out. Following the injury, which affected the right side of his face, the training staff immediately attended to the 36-year-old, and the team removed him from the starting lineup.
DJ LeMahieu took a ball to the face during warmups and is down in pain, per @ChrisKirschner
He’s being examined by the Yankees training staff pic.twitter.com/zDHWy2vKkq
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 23, 2024
Yankees Veteran DJ LeMahieu Injured Before Game Time
LeMahieu hasn’t had a productive season for the Bronx Bombers. He’s sporting a WAR of -1.6 with two home runs and a batting average of .189. But LeMahieu is a veteran who is a four-time Gold Glove winner, a two-time Silver Slugger winner, and a three-time All-Star. With LeMahieu’s removal from the lineup, Ben Rice took his place playing first base and batting ninth in the lineup. LeMahieu was experiencing discomfort in his jaw and cheek area. His removal from the Yankees lineup was a preventative measure. It was, without doubt, a scary situation for LeMahieu, and the Yankees didn’t want to take any chances, especially with the number of injuries that have already occurred this season.
Although the injury is no fun for LeMahieu, considering his down season with the Yankees, some might say it is a blessing in disguise. While he has aged, he hasn’t displayed any reflection of his past success as a veteran. His roster spot, for the time being at least, could go to a younger, fresh player who can produce better numbers. It’s especially unfortunate for LeMahieu as he has been hampered by several injuries in the last few years, negatively affecting his performance. His status is still uncertain as we await more information about his injury. Any time a ball hits a player, it is a frightful situation. On the bright side, LeMahieu was able to walk to the dugout by himself without any assistance.
Photo Credit: © David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK
