WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — There has not been a setback, but DJ LeMahieu’s return has been slightly delayed.
The rehabbing infielder has not been able to play consecutive games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre because of weather complications.
The original plan called for LeMahieu to play Tuesday and Wednesday before a possible activation to begin the series against the A’s.
Instead, Tuesday’s game was rained out — as were SWB games both Thursday and Friday.
If LeMahieu can play Saturday and Sunday, he would be in line to be activated during the series in Seattle that begins Monday.
In seven games with Double-A Somerset and SWB, LeMahieu has gone 9-for-19 with two walks, a home run and a double. The early returns have “definitely” been encouraging to Aaron Boone.
“The biggest thing I want is for him to be able to establish a role,” the manager said before the Yankees’ 10-2 series-opening win over the A’s at Sutter Health Park. “The best-case scenario is he returns to being the batting champion. But there’s everything from in between that, too, whether it’s a real factor against lefties, the ability to still really defend. We’ll just kind of see.”
LeMahieu played in 67 ineffective games last year because of hip and foot problems.
The 36-year-old lasted just two Grapefruit League at-bats before suffering a left calf strain that has sidelined him since early March.
During his rehab assignment, he required a cortisone shot in his hip that Boone called a “preemptive” measure.
The Yankees are hopeful LeMahieu can hit, but they also are just hoping he can stay healthy.
“The biggest thing is how he recovers and bounces back and can he do it over and over again — that’ll be the question,” Boone said. “I think he’s pretty optimistic about how he’s feeling. I think the last month, month-plus has been a pretty good ramp-up for him, as far as how he’s feeling.”
The Yankees, who are down Jazz Chisholm Jr., could use prime LeMahieu.
When he returns, he likely would play plenty of second base and push out Jorbit Vivas, Oswald Peraza or Pablo Reyes.
Against Osvaldo Bido, a righty with reverse splits, Boone chose to sit lefty Cody Bellinger.
Trent Grisham led off and played center while Ben Rice served as DH and Jasson Domínguez, who hit three homers in the win, played left field.
“I kind of got five or six guys for five or four spots,” Boone said.
Austin Wells also received a day off after playing all three games against the Padres.
J.C. Escarra caught Will Warren.
Wells is expected to start Saturday.
The Yankees’ first visit to the capital of California, a sort of purgatory for the nomadic A’s, also was the first time Boone — a native of the state — saw Sacramento.
“First impression of it is really good,” said Boone, who went out to dinner in the city with his coaching staff Thursday night. “Really haven’t been here long enough to really have too big of an opinion on it, but my first impressions are good.”
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