TAMPA — DJ LeMahieu did one thing out of character this previous offseason: he stopped swinging.
The infielder, competing to be the Yankees’ third baseman, stated that he took two months off from hitting over the winter. The 36-year-old referred to as the break the longest he can ever keep in mind taking, however he and his physique wanted a “reset” following the worst season of his profession.
It wasn’t till mid-January that LeMahieu returned to the software that received him batting titles in 2016 and 2020. Whereas place gamers formally reported on Sunday, he’s been in Tampa for a month. Now he’s desirous to show his doubters mistaken.
“Plenty of times in my career, people haven’t always been the most confident in me,” LeMahieu stated Tuesday. “I would obviously use that as motivation. But at the same time, I got enough to worry about.”
LeMahieu shouldn’t be alone within the combat for third base, as Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza are additionally within the combine for the largest gap on the Yankees’ roster. However LeMahieu is essentially the most notable candidate, as he’s owed $30 million over the following two years, has proven critical indicators of decline, and suffered two vital foot accidents over the past three seasons.
LeMahieu has a 99 wRC+ since profitable his final batting title, making him a tick beneath league common.
“I’m not going to put anything past a healthy DJ LeMahieu and his ability to hit,” Aaron Boone stated final week. “There’s always going to be the naysayers out there, but really, this is in and around a guy that is a great hitter who’s had some tough, nagging, bad injuries that have cut into that greatness. So there’s no telling what he may be able to do if he’s healthy.”
A shell of his former self final 12 months, LeMahieu performed in simply 67 video games after breaking his foot on a foul ball in spring coaching. He went on to slash .204/.269/.259 with seven extra-base hits, two residence runs, 26 RBI and a 52 wRC+. A hip damage then ended his season in September.
“I’m not used to it,” LeMahieu stated when requested if he’s been laborious on himself. “I definitely lost a lot of sleep. It’s tough to be a guy that the team can’t rely on at times. I always take pride in that, so to not be able to do that, it’s definitely frustrating. But at the same time, I haven’t lost my passion for helping this team and my passion for this team. So that keeps me going.”
Here is DJ LeMahieu and Paul Goldschmidt within the cage. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/MgS4fON15s
LeMahieu stated that he’s in actual fact wholesome now. He added that he’s on a program with the Yankees’ coaching workers in an effort to remain that means for the following eight months.
The veteran described himself as “anti-training room” up to now, however LeMahieu is attempting to benefit from the quite a few facilities and sources obtainable on the Yankees’ renovated Tampa complicated.
“For a majority of my career I would pretty much play unless my leg was cut off,” he stated. “That was my mindset. I didn’t go in the training room. I just strapped it on every day and played. The last few years, just bumps, bruises, this, that, had the foot fracture. Stuff that I could kind of play through in the past, it just escalates and it compounds. That’s been the frustrating part.”
LeMahieu additionally stated that information — the Yankees’ have tech that gives real-time suggestions — is telling him he might be his outdated self “for the most part.”
“The metrics are fairly similar,” the four-time Gold Glover stated, “especially on defense.”
To date, LeMahieu is inspired by the work he’s completed, however spring coaching continues to be in its infancy. He’ll should earn taking part in time for the primary time shortly, and it’s all the time doable that the championship-aspiring Yankees add one other infielder earlier than Opening Day.
With all that in thoughts, LeMahieu has but to debate the third base battle with Boone. He isn’t making any assumptions about who the favourite for the job is, both.
“I’m not really too concerned with where I’m playing or how much I’m playing at this point,” LeMahieu stated. “Like I said, I got enough on my plate to make sure I’m ready to help this team. So however it shakes out, it is what it is.”
