DJ LeMahieu played back-to-back games for the first time during his minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset as he recovers from the strained left calf he suffered in his first Grapefruit League game of spring training.
LeMahieu had a hit Sunday and went 6-for-10 with a homer in four games with Somerset.
Aaron Boone said that LeMahieu, who has played second base during his rehab games, would be moved to third this week, when his rehab assignment will be transferred to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
His workload will increase beginning Tuesday with SWB this week, as well.
With Jazz Chisholm Jr. comfortable at second and Oswaldo Cabrera having made five errors — as many as any player in the majors at third — LeMahieu would most easily slide back in as a third baseman.
Cabrera has hit better of late and had a two-run double in an 11-2 win in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader in The Bronx.
Anthony Volpe hit four homers in the first five games of the year but didn’t hit another one until Sunday, an opposite field shot to right in the fifth inning of the first game, which sparked a three-run inning. He added two singles in the 5-1 win in Game 2.
Boone said he saw a difference in Volpe’s swing during Friday’s batting practice and that it’s carried over to the games.
“Nice and easy,” Boone said of Volpe’s recent swings. “That’s what he’s capable of.”
Luis Gil began his throwing program Sunday after it was pushed back initially.
The right-hander, last season’s AL Rookie of the Year, has been sidelined with a lat strain since the spring.
He’s expected to make his season debut in June.
“It’s another good step in the process,” Boone said. “Hopefully it continues to go well.”
Boone said Jonathan Loáisiga’s first rehab outing with Low-A Tampa was solid.
The right-hander is coming back from elbow surgery and could be an important addition to the pen midway through the season.
Tyler Matzek made his Yankees debut in their win in the first game.
The lefty was sidelined during the spring with an oblique injury. He allowed a run in the ninth inning.
Ben Rice, who came up through the Yankees system as a catcher, was behind the plate for the first time Sunday.
He took over for Austin Wells in the ninth after starting the game at DH.
Rice works nearly every day at the position, despite serving mostly as DH and backup first baseman with Giancarlo Stanton out.
Right-hander Yerry de los Santos was used as the 27th-man for Sunday’s doubleheader.
He replaced Max Fried to start the seventh and tossed two scoreless innings before he was returned to SWB following the second game.