DJ LeMahieu working out with Yankees as injury return looms
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Try it freeDETROIT — DJ LeMahieu rejoined the Yankees on Monday and it wasn’t just to get a few days in his home state.
The veteran infielder is set to work out with the Yankees during their three-game series at Comerica Park, and if he gets through that without any issues, he will likely start a rehab assignment on Friday, manager Aaron Boone said.
LeMahieu has been sidelined since March 1 with a calf strain that he suffered in his second at-bat of spring training.
It was just the latest in a long list of lower leg injuries that have derailed him over the past few seasons.
Because he missed most of the spring, LeMahieu is expected to need a lengthy rehab assignment to get a good number of at-bats under his belt before he could be activated.
Rehab assignments for position players are capped at 20 days, meaning LeMahieu could potentially be back by the end of the month.
The 36-year-old, who still has two years and $30 million left on his contract, reported to camp this spring feeling good but anxious to prove that he could still help the Yankees.
He was going to have a chance to win the third base job before he got injured, with Oswald Peraza and Pablo Reyes now making up the right-handed hitting half of the platoon with Oswaldo Cabrera.
Ian Hamilton also joined the Yankees in Detroit, with the “expectation” that he will be activated off the injured list Tuesday when first eligible, Boone said.
But he wanted to get through the day to see where things stood before making the final call.
If Hamilton does return on Tuesday, that could mean a short stay for Adam Ottavino, who arrived at Comerica Park just over two hours before first pitch after re-signing with the club — three days after he was designated for assignment.
It’s almost as if the Yankees have Ottavino — who walked two and struck out one in one-third of an inning Monday — on retainer at this point.
“Definitely good to have him back,” Boone said. “Threw the ball well for us I felt like in his two outings. Talk about another guy that’s obviously already had a long and distinguished career, I appreciate his joy for going out there and competing. There’s kind of no ego with it.”
To make room for Ottavino on the active roster Monday, the Yankees optioned Brent Headrick to Triple-A.
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The lefty had not allowed a run in 5 ¹/₃ innings while striking out nine, but threw two innings Sunday and
had minor league options, making him the odd man out with the bullpen in need of a fresh arm.
“I believe there’s a role to be had here for him, especially if he keeps pitching this way,” Boone said. “So yeah, tough one, but one of the unfortunate things you got to do sometimes, especially early in the season.”
Tommy Kahnle, now with the Tigers, spent time pregame Monday catching up with his former teammates before striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning.
“I love Tommy Kahnle,” Boone said. “The one thing I always say is, ‘He’s our Tommy.’ But not anymore. But always good to see him.”
Tyler Matzek (oblique) started a rehab assignment on Sunday with Single-A Tampa, throwing 17 pitches over one inning.
He could become a bullpen option before the end of the month if all goes well.