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TAMPA, Fla. -- The line drives off DJ LeMahieu¡¯s bat look more ¡°explosive¡± this spring, according to manager Aaron Boone, who already seems prepared to anoint a favorite in the camp battle to serve as the Yankees¡¯ leadoff hitter.

Even before a Grapefruit League game has been played, Boone acknowledged that his preference would be to slot the 35-year-old LeMahieu as the table-setter in the top spot, getting on base to create traffic ahead of Juan Soto, captain Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo.

¡°When I¡¯m going, I think I can really help us in the leadoff spot,¡± LeMahieu said on Wednesday. ¡°We¡¯ll just kind of see how the lineup shakes out, but I¡¯m just excited to be part of this lineup in general -- more excited to be part of this lineup than in a little while.¡±

That¡¯s because after more than a calendar year battling lower-half woes, LeMahieu finally feels he has a solid base underneath him, which he believes can restore his above-average ability to drive and spray the ball.

"I¡¯m feeling a big year out of DJ again,¡± Judge said. ¡°Just the work he¡¯s put in, the laser focus he always has. I feel like he¡¯s picked it up a notch even this year coming into camp, which I¡¯m excited about.¡±

Better health permitted LeMahieu to show signs of improvement in the second half last year, when he posted a .273 batting average with an .809 OPS in 60 games, a marked improvement over the .220 batting average and .642 OPS that LeMahieu compiled in 76 games before the All-Star break.

¡°Listen, last year was a bad year,¡± LeMahieu said. ¡°But I definitely could take some positives away from the second half, at least. Overall, I¡¯m just looking to turn the page on last year, collectively and individually.¡±

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole called LeMahieu ¡°a quiet leader who has a ton of respect in the room."

"He shows up every day,¡± Cole said. ¡°He puts on a stoic persona, whether he¡¯s feeling great or he¡¯s not feeling great; whether he¡¯s having success or he¡¯s not. His abilities at the front of the lineup are well-known. His on-base percentage should float somewhere around .400.

¡°He obviously has tremendous opposite-field ability and power, which plays really well in our stadium. His veteran leadership and gamesmanship fit really well in that role as leadoff; his ability to communicate and see pitches, and also drive in runs. To see him thriving in the leadoff spot would be really good for the Yankees.¡±

LeMahieu said he worked throughout the offseason, resuming training shortly after the Yanks¡¯ season-ending loss on Oct. 1 in Kansas City. He spent much of the winter at the Yankees¡¯ player development facility in Tampa.

¡°The Yankees do a great job with having people available to the guys that are down here,¡± LeMahieu said. ¡°It¡¯s made me want to spend a lot more time down here, especially because of the Minor League coaches that are here. We¡¯re able to hit, run, get in training, get in the weight room.

¡°Everything we need is down here. So for me, there¡¯s really no better place to be, with all the resources we have down here and all the people that want to help us get on the right track."