New York Yankees: DJ LeMahieu injury timetable for return is not good

If losing Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge wasn’t enough, the New York Yankees watched star infielder DJ LeMahieu sprain his thumb overextending on a swing.

Prior to his injury, LeMahieu was having an unbelievable season. Through 19 games, he was hitting .411 with a .456 on-base percentage. He also had two homers and eight RBIs to complement 30 hits. Defensively, he struggled with two errors but otherwise was perfect in fielding the ball. Losing him will leave a significant void for the Yankees at second base.

Who will replace DJ LeMahieu?

In the meantime, the Yankees will feature Tyler Wade in place of LeMahieu. Over 16 games this season, he is hitting .222 with a .300 OBP.

He is a fantastic defender that offers minimal offensive production, which will ultimately represent the loss in DJ.

However, on a brighter note, Judge stated that he is 100% healthy and ready to re-join the team after his 10-day spell on the injured list expires. He reportedly “begged” management to keep him active, but they felt taking his injury with extra precaution was necessary. Earlier this year, Stanton missed several weeks with a grade-1 calf strain, so management doesn’t want to put Judge in any risky situations.

As for LeMahieu, Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone stated that he would be available to return within 2–3 weeks. Early reports indicated he could be available within a week, but his injury is seemingly more severe than expected. He also had a thumb injury back in 2018 with the Colorado Rockies, and despite his impeccable health, “Le Machine” seems to be mortal after all.