LeMahieu heads for testing after feeling 'tweak' in left calf

NORTH PORT, Fla. ¨C The injury bug has once again taken a bite out of Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu.

During Saturday¡¯s 9-3 Spring Training win over the Astros, LeMahieu felt a ¡°tweak¡± in his left calf heading up the first-base line after popping out to second in the fourth inning.

Manager Aaron Boone didn¡¯t have much of an update Sunday on the 36-year-old, saying LeMahieu will undergo imaging soon. From there, the Yankees will determine a timetable on when LeMahieu could return.

¡°Obviously frustrating for him,¡± Boone said before the Yankees¡¯ tilt with the Braves at CoolToday Park. ¡°But we¡¯ll do the best we can to get it right.¡±

LeMahieu played just 67 games last year for the Yankees while dealing with multiple injuries.

Last March 25, LeMahieu was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right foot contusion after he fouled a ball off the foot during a Spring Training game. He was later transferred to the 60-day IL when it was revealed he had broken the foot. Following a rehab assignment, LeMahieu rejoined the club on May 28, but in early September, he again found himself on the injured list, this time with a right hip impingement that ended his season.

¡°You hate seeing that stuff just knowing what he¡¯s gone through,¡± Boone said. ¡°Tough news, but hopefully not something that¡¯s too long.¡±

LeMahieu hit .204 last year across 228 plate appearances, driving in 26 runs and posting an OBP of .269.

The three-time All-Star has seldom had a fully healthy season since 2020, when he finished third in American League Most Valuable Player voting.

In 2021, LeMahieu missed the postseason with a sports hernia that required surgery. He had toe inflammation issues in ¡®22, yet he still managed to win his fourth Gold Glove Award while playing in 125 games.

LeMahieu played in 136 games in 2023, battling through stints of quad tightness and missing a stretch of games in August with calf tightness.

LeMahieu was slated to get more time at third base this season. The Yankees will now look to Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, Pablo Reyes and possibly Jorbit Vivas.

Cabrera made 62 starts at third for the Yankees last season. Peraza is on the rise and played four games at the hot corner for the club in 2024.

¡°Nothing really changes,¡± Boone said about how LeMaheiu¡¯s injury impacts third base. ¡°[Cabrera is] obviously very much in the mix there. Peraza is getting a lot of reps over there and in the mix. Pablo Reyes could fit in. Sports cliche, ¡®next man up,¡¯ and we just got to do the best we can to get guys ready.¡±