Yankees' DJ LeMahieu On Injured List With Sprained Left Thumb
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — The New York Yankees placed American League batting leader DJ LeMahieu placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday because of a sprained left thumb, joining Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the sidelines.
LeMahieu was hurt during an awkward swing in the fourth inning of Saturday night's 11-5 victory over Boston and left the game two innings later. LeMahieu hurt the same thumb in 2018 while with Colorado. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu hold him the thumb felt similar Saturday night. LeMahieu was on the disabled list from May 14 to June 1 that year.
LeMahieu was sent for an MRI and CT scan on Saturday night. Slowed by COVID-19 when training resumed in July, he returned for opening day and is hitting .411 with two homers and eight RBIs.
MORE: LeMahieu Hurt, But Frazier's 5 RBIs Lift Yanks Over Red Sox
A 32-year-old second baseman, LeMahieu hits leadoff atop a powerful Yankees lineup on a team that leads the AL East with a 14-6 record, New York's best start since 2003.
"That's the catalyst of this offense," Judge said. "Doesn't matter the situation, the time of the game, what's going on, how he's feeling."
Tyler Wade figures to get most of the time at second in LeMahieu's absence. He had an RBI double after replacing LaMahieu on Saturday night.
"I've always had confidence in my game. It just comes with reps," said Wade, who began Sunday with a .286 average in 14 at-bats.
Miguel Andújar was recalled from New York's alternate training site at Scranton, where he was optioned after play on Aug. 5. Andújar hurt a shoulder last year and lost the third-base job to Gio Urshela, then returned from surgery this year and hit .071 (1 for 14) with no RBIs in five games.
Judge plans to resume batting on Monday and to be activated on Saturday. He got sore from playing on artificial turf at Tampa Bay and tried to talk the Yankees into not putting him on the IL.
"Going there usually beats up your legs playing on that turf. I just felt a little tight," he said.
Judge plans to wear tennis sneakers while playing the outfield at Tropicana Field in the future, then switch to baseball cleats while batting. He tried to lobby manager Aaron Boone, doctors and athletics trainers to not put him on the IL.
"I feel 100% now," he said. "I was trying to beg them to give me a couple of days so I'd be ready tomorrow. But it is what it is. I think they're just kind of looking out for me, so it doesn't get worse."
Stanton has not played since Aug. 8 because of a strained left hamstring and Judge hasn't played since Tuesday because of strained right calf. Stanton has been on the DL/IL in six of nine seasons and Judge in three straight seasons and four of five.
You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
