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Post by JohnM on Mar 25, 2024 12:59:48 GMT -5
TAMPA – DJ LeMahieu won’t be manning the hot corner or leading off when the Yankees open their season in Houston on March 28.
Instead, the third baseman will start the season on the injured list after fouling a ball off his right foot on March 16. Brian Cashman made the announcement on Monday morning.
“It hasn’t really responded quick enough,” the general manager said. “At this stage, he’s not going to be ready for Opening Day. We’re not officially IL’ing him today, but he won’t be ready to start the season.”
While LeMahieu has done some baseball activities since suffering a significant bone bruise, the Yankees are being cautious with him. An injury to the same foot compromised LeMahieu in 2022.
“It’s just a little bit slow go on the recovery side,” Cashman said. “He banged that up pretty good.”
With LeMahieu sidelined, Cashman said that Oswaldo Cabrera is the “best internal candidate” to play third. While the Yankees could still add from outside the organization, Cabrera has been red-hot after a poor start to spring training.
He’s done a nice job here,” Cashman said of the versatile 25-year-old. “I think he got out of the gate a little slow, but he’s been playing really well.”
Anthony Rizzo (lat) returned to the lineup as a DH for the Yankees’ Grapefruit League finale on Monday. He expects to play first on Opening Day.
“I wouldn’t be in there today if I didn’t anticipate that, that’s for sure,” Rizzo said. “I’m not gonna play in a spring training game and jeopardize that, so I feel great.”
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