Almost a year after his release from the Yankees, DJ LeMahieu is back in baseball.
But, at least for now, he’s not on the field — he’ll be calling the shots from the dugout.
The former All-Star second baseman was hired as the manager of the Royal Oak Leprechauns, a Northwoods summer collegiate baseball team in Michigan. LeMahieu moved to the state as a middle schooler and then became a prolific player at Brother Rice High School.
LeMahieu previously helped fund the summer team’s home ballpark renovations earlier this decade.
The team said LeMahieu will be “continuing to pursue opportunities in professional baseball,” though it did not specify whether that meant playing or coaching.
“DJ has been hands-on throughout the entire offseason, and that’s meant everything to our staff,” general manager Danny Weiss said in a statement about the hiring. “As he steps into the field manager role, that same commitment carries over to the players he leads. He cares deeply about building a culture players want to be part of — and that’s going to set the standard for everything we do in 2026 and beyond.”
LeMahieu was designated for assignment by the Yankees last July and officially released one day later after hititng .266 with a .674 OPS in 45 games in 2025. Over his last three seasons in pinstripes, he hit just .237.
It was a fall-off from his first two seasons with the Yankees when he finished fourth and third in the American League MVP voting in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In the COVID-shortened 2020, he led MLB with a .364 average and the AL with a .421 on-base percentage and 1.011 OPS.
Last Monday, LeMahieu posted on his Instagram feed for the first time in six years to wish the Yankees well.
“I know it’s been a minute but just want to make sure I say thank you to the @yankees organization, all of the fans and my teammates for my time in New York,” he wrote in the caption of his post. “I may have been three years shy of being a true ‘New Yorker,’ but New York will forever feel like home. I’m thankful to have been a part of some incredible moments on the field. Hoping for continued success for the boys!”
The Leprechauns start their season May 25.
