When the New York Yankees learned that star second baseman DJ LeMahieu tested positive with COVID-19, the unfortunate fact undoubtedly cast a dark shadow over their injury woes.
However, â€Le Machine†did not let COVID get the best of him, as he returned just two weeks later and took part in Sunday night’s exhibition game against the New York Mets.
“It was surprising. It was shocking. It’s definitely a scary thing when you have something that there’s no cure for,” said LeMahieu over the weekend. “I didn’t really have any symptoms; very surprised I tested positive. I was lucky I wasn’t in contact with hardly anyone when I got the news. I really didn’t do a lot, just kind of hung out and tried to get those negative tests and get back here as soon as I could.”
Despite staying safe and taking proper precautions, DJ did come in contact with someone who tested positive with the virus.
“I had been in contact with someone who was positive, and I wanted to see my dad, but I didn’t want to see him until I got tested; tested positive and got a call four or five days later and, obviously, really shocked,” LeMahieu explained.
The New York Yankees have a cyborg on their roster, a.k.a, “Le Machine”
It is impressive that he was able to return with minimal live batting reps to face off in an actual game. LeMahieu enjoyed two at-bats, making decent contact on both and grounding out both times. The fact is, despite recording two outs, making decent contact and seeing the ball well was the goal for the utility player.
The Yankees desperately need him to remain healthy and active during a condensed 60-game season. His general health throughout the course of his career has been great, as he takes very good care of his body and is fundamentally sound.
In 2019, his first year with the Yankees, he posted a .327 batting average was 26 homers in 102 RBIs. Both of those categories were career highs for the former Colorado Rockie.
At 31 years old, LeMahieu has plenty of gas left in the tank. He’s on the final year of a two-year contract with the Yankees, and I imagine they will seriously consider extending him if he performs well in 2020.
After participating in Sunday’s game, the good news is that he’s trending positive for a possible return to the lineup on July 23, which represents Opening Day against the Washington Nationals. If he’s unable to go, the Yankees could supplement him with Thairo Estrada or Tyler Wade at second base. It would also force them to maneuver their lineup accordingly.