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If Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hadn’t beaten DJ LeMahieu on the injured list, the second baseman would still be disappointed that he couldn’t play due to a sprained left thumb.
The fact that the judge and Stanton are also out makes dealing with the injury more difficult for the Yankees’ most complete hitter and another example of LeMahieu’s team attitude, which is a big hit in the clubhouse and the manager’s office.
LeMahieu was hitting over .400 when he injured himself in a clumsy swing on Saturday. But when asked Wednesday before the Rays-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium to be frustrated because he had left for a splendid start, LeMahieu quickly shifted the focus elsewhere.
“It’s frustrating because Judgie and Big G are out,” LeMahieu said of the outfielders treating calf and hamstring injuries respectively. “It’s a little bad timing but it’s frustrating, I’m proud to be there everyday and ready to go. When you can’t, it sucks. ”
Since LeMahieu joined IL, the Yankees have taken two straight from the rancid Red Sox and abandoned a 6-3 decision to the Rays on Tuesday night at the stadium. In those three games, Aaron Boone started Tyler Wade second in the first two again and Thairo Estrada second in the third and had Estrada second on Wednesday night.
LeMahieu had his thumb examined by three doctors and the prognosis was that it would be put aside for two to three weeks.
“It’s quite painful but a lot better, it’s the third or fourth day now and a lot better,” said LeMahieu. “We haven’t talked about swings yet. I was moving on the ground [Wednesday] try to do whatever I can. A couple of different doctors said two to three weeks. Obviously try to push that. ”
As a Rockie in 2018, LeMahieu was on IL from May 14 to June 1 with a left thumb problem. Because a baseball player does everything but run with his hands, LeMahieu was asked if he had a persistent problem two years ago.
“No, I was pretty good to go. I kinda expect the same with that. The last time I did it, there was a little fracture in there and this time it’s not, ” LeMahieu said. “I hope to come back sooner and later. ”
LeMahieu said the injection was discussed but not given.
“There was a pretty good improvement after the first two days,” said LeMahieu, avoiding a shot designed to reduce inflammation.
With Judge an option to leave the IL on Saturday, the first day he’s eligible, the Yankees would pick up a big bat. Like LeMahieu, Stanton is not about to return.
Besides being a very important part of the roster – he takes the lead and provides power and production from the top spot – LeMahieu has a personal interest in playing well on his return as he can become free agent after the World Series.
The thumb injury in 2018 combined with an oblique problem that also landed him on IL resulted in what has been LeMahieu a year of decline, as he hit .276 in 128 games. This impacted his free agent market, and with the Rockies looking to spend a lot on Nolan Arenado, they saw LeMahieu agree to a two-year, $ 24 million contract with the Yankees.
With a .327 average and career highs in home runs (26) and RBIs (102), the first year turned out to be a bargain for the Yankees, who saw LeMahieu finish fourth in the vote of the AL MVP.
With baseball facing colossal financial losses due to the season hit by COVID-19, it’s unclear what LeMahieu, 32, will order in the market this time around.
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