The New York Yankees won on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves. Clint Frazier, fresh off being called up from the team’s alternate training site, had a night to remember that included a home run and two additional hits. But DJ LeMahieu, slowly but surely, keeps hitting the cover off the ball and had a particularly bright night at the plate.
The New York Yankees’ second baseman, who was limited for much of the summer camp with a positive COVID-19 test, went 4-for-5 with a triple in the Bombers’ victory. With the excellent performance, his batting average is up to an American League-leading .431 in the short season.
“I feel pretty locked in right now,” LeMahieu said to MLB.com. “I’m just part of a really good lineup and I’m just trying to do my part to get on base. If I get on base, I feel like we’re in good shape to score runs. Just trying to be tough on the pitchers.”
Before the season started and with only 60 games to be played, lots of folks around the industry questioned whether LeMahieu had what it takes to bat .400. He would be the first one to do it since Ted Williams in 1941. Well, so far, so good.
The Yankees’ “special hitter”
“He’s a special hitter,” said manager Aaron Boone. “He’s a guy that uses the whole field, has pop, handles righties and lefties. He has tremendous bat-to-ball skills and does a great job of just laying the bat head in the zone for a really long time.”
The Yankees’ star infielder already has one batting title in his possession, back in 2016 when he played with the Colorado Rockies. Now, he is battling toe to toe with former teammate Charlie Blackmon, who paces the old circuit with .472 points.
“It’s early in the season; there’s a lot of baseball to be played,” LeMahieu said, “but I definitely have the same type of confidence [as in 2016], for sure. And the results are following as well.”
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that if LeMahieu wins the batting crown, it should have the exact same consideration as if it were on a normal, regular season.
“If DJ LeMahieu won the batting title, would anyone question that? I wouldn’t,” Boone said. “If he goes out and does it, people will think of it what they want. This year presents different challenges. I think any success you achieve over a 60-game period is going to be different, but it’s impressive nonetheless, especially in the environment we’re existing in.”