DJ LeMahieu’s second rehab assignment got off to a better start than his first, but manager Aaron Boone said it’s unlikely the infielder will make his season debut with the Yankees by the beginning of their West Coast trip, which begins next Friday.
“I think a week [from now] is probably not realistic because he’ll need a little bit of buildup and some off days,’’ Boone said before the Yankees beat the White Sox, 4-2, on Friday. “I think [his return] is possible at some point on the trip, but I don’t expect it to be the start of it, certainly.”
LeMahieu, out all season with a non-displaced foot fracture, played three innings at third base for Double-A Somerset, but didn’t have any balls hit to him.
At the plate, LeMahieu went 1-for-2 and reached on an infield hit in his first at-bat.
Afterwards, Boone said there were no issues physically with LeMahieu.
“Everything was fine,’’ Boone said.
It was his first game action since he lasted just one inning April 23, when he was removed with foot soreness.
If all goes well, LeMahieu is scheduled to play another rehab game Sunday.
Like everything else, the Yankees have survived the absence of the 35-year-old well all season.
Oswaldo Cabrera was in the lineup Friday with five hits in his previous dozen at-bats, but went hitless and made a throwing error.
Clay Holmes picked up another save in another scoreless ninth inning, but his appearance started off differently than any of his previous outings, as the Yankees became the latest team to give their closer the WWE treatment as he entered the game.
The Stadium lights were dimmed and a montage of Holmes’ highlights were shown as he jogged onto the field to his entrance song, Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse.”
“That was something,’’ said Aaron Judge, who said the team didn’t know the introduction was coming. “We’ve been pushing as a team for it, talking to the right people. You’ve got a closer like we do, you’ve got to have something special for him. It gave us goose bumps.
Holmes then extended his superb start to the season as he hasn’t given up an earned run in his 19 ¹/₃ innings. He’s the only pitcher in MLB who has thrown at least seven innings to have done so.
Tommy Kahnle could soon return to the bullpen after a solid rehab outing Thursday.
The right-hander has been out all season with shoulder inflammation, but Boone said it was “possible” he may be back by Tuesday.
Boone said Kahnle will pitch again Sunday and the team will “evaluate from there.”
Anthony Volpe extended his hitting streak to 10 games, tying his career high.
He has five extra-base hits during that span.
“Even when he had a little bit of a downturn, we were seeing a consistent approach,’’ Boone said of Volpe. “I think he’s a way better hitter than he was even at the end of last year.”
The adjustments Volpe has made make him “consistently a much tougher out,’’ Boone said. “Lately, that’s turned into an upturn in results.”