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On a day that ended in defeat, there was not a more encouraging sight for the Yankees than the reappearance of the two-time batting champion they had not seen in a long time.
In some ways literally: This was DJ LeMahieu’s first game in The Bronx since Aug. 25 of last year.
In some ways less literally: LeMahieu tallied his first multihit game of the season and launched his first home run in his third game of the campaign after hitting just two homers in 67 games last year.
Perhaps this was simply a blip in a long, extended downturn for an oft-injured 36-year-old, but it did not take long for the veteran infielder to remind of his résumé and signal that there might be more for him to offer.
LeMahieu impressed defensively, sent hard-hit balls all around the ballpark (including one that left the ballpark) and simply looked, once again, like DJ LeMahieu during a 3-2 loss to the Mets on Saturday.
“He looks like he’s got a little chip on his shoulder,” said Clarke Schmidt, who was charged with two runs in six innings partly because LeMahieu helped stop a potential Mets rally after Schmidt exited in the seventh. “He just looks fresh, looks like he’s got his legs under him. It’s refreshing to see.”
Activated this week from a calf strain — the latest malady for a player who has collected them — LeMahieu has come off the injured list hitting.
In the third inning, he got under a Griffin Canning 94.8 mph fastball — significant for a bat that had struggled to catch up to heat in recent seasons — and lifted it over the short porch in right for his first homer since July 31.
The Machine broke character in pumping his fist coming around first base — “Probably too much emotion,” LeMahieu said — and returned to a dugout that was filled with smiles.
“Felt good to play at Yankee Stadium again in front of these fans and obviously a big series,” said LeMahieu, who had been activated in Seattle and has felt strong in the very beginnings of an attempted comeback that at times had not seemed possible.
After multiple foot and toe issues haunted him for years, he looked like a shell of himself last season before being shelved with a right hip impingement.
This year he did not survive one Grapefruit League game, suffering the calf strain in his spring debut.
But after a lengthy buildup and rehab assignment, LeMahieu has shown signs of turning back the clock.
There was the home run, and the single through the middle that left his bat at 100.5 mph, plus another hard-hit ground out.
There also was a 106.6 mph bullet with the bases loaded in the eighth inning that was impressive in every aspect but aim, sent right to Juan Soto in right field.
“Really encouraging to see him just have that level of at-bats in his first few outings here,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He was phenomenal today.”
“I feel like I’m finding my rhythm pretty quickly,” LeMahieu added.
The Yankees have a real need at the moment at second base (with Jazz Chisholm Jr. hurt) and for the season at third base (unsettled even before Oswaldo Cabrera’s fractured ankle), which a healthy LeMahieu could solve.
There is far too much season left to declare he can help, but he at least showed he has the ability to help if healthy.
Both at the plate and in the field.
His sliding, backhanded play to retire Francisco Lindor helped the Yankees escape a jam in the seventh.
“He’s always been a great fielder,” Boone said. “The injuries have taken him off the field, [but] he’s never not been outstanding in the field. … That’s who he is. He’s an elite defender.”
