BALTIMORE — Wednesday marked one week since DJ LeMahieu was shut down for at least a week to receive treatment on his non-displaced foot fracture.
While the Yankees veteran infielder has not resumed baseball activities just yet, that could be coming soon.
“Not yet, but I know today he came in ‘feeling great,’ ” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 2-0 win over the Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards. “Are we at a week? So I’m sure I’ll get on the report here today or [Thursday] that that’s probably starting to happen.”
DJ LeMahieu takes grounders before an April Yankees game and prior to be shut down again from baseball activities due to his injured foot. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports The 35-year-old LeMahieu had started a rehab assignment April 23, but it only lasted an inning as he was removed with soreness in the right foot.
An MRI exam two days later showed recurring swelling.
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Once LeMahieu begins baseball activities again, Boone indicated he would not be starting from scratch.
“Hopefully it’s a handful of days and then we start talking about a rehab assignment,” Boone said.
Boone also said that he did not think LeMahieu would need to undergo more imaging before he starts ramping back up.
“Even where it was in the past, it’s a tolerance thing at this point,” Boone said. “The swelling, he obviously did something that created a little bit of swelling in there. I don’t think we need to see better images at this point.”
Gleyber Torres had started to find some traction offensively over the past week — batting 10-for-32 (.313) over his last seven games — but he still entered Wednesday with zero home runs through his first 31 games.
“I’m sure it creeps in there a little bit,” Boone said. “Anytime, whether you’re a rookie or veteran All-Star-caliber player, you always hear me talk about early in the season wanting guys to get that first hit out of the way that first week.
Gleyber Torres, singling during the Yankees’ loss to the Orioles on Monday, has not hit a homer this season. AP “When you’re trying to knock off firsts, even though I don’t think it’s anything that’s consuming him, it’s also in the back of your mind a little bit. You certainly can’t go chasing that. His power will allow it to happen. Usually the pitch has to cooperate. It’s about going up there and putting yourself in a good position to handle pitches. When you get a mistake, it just naturally happens.”
Jon Berti (left groin strain) did not play in a third rehab game as originally scheduled on Wednesday because his back locked up on him earlier in the day.
“I don’t think it’s anything major, but I think he’s going to play [Thursday] instead,” Boone said. “They just said, ‘Let’s hold you out today.’ ”
If Berti does play Thursday, Boone said it “could be” his final rehab game, “but we’ll kind of take it day by day.”
Reliever Nick Burdi (right hip inflammation) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday at Double-A Somerset that went well and is “champing at the bit” to get back, Boone said. The Yankees will likely have Burdi pitch in a rehab game to make sure he is in the clear and recovers properly from the outing.
“Hopefully that’s soon,” Boone said.
Alex Verdugo (paternity list) was expected to fly to Baltimore late Wednesday night and could return to the lineup for Thursday’s series finale, depending on his travel.
