This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
TAMPA, Fla. — The road drives off DJ LeMahieu’s bat look extra “explosive” this spring, in keeping with supervisor Aaron Boone, who already appears ready to anoint a favourite within the camp battle to function the Yankees’ leadoff hitter.
Even earlier than a Grapefruit League sport has been performed, Boone acknowledged that his choice can be to fit the 35-year-old LeMahieu because the table-setter within the prime spot, getting on base to create site visitors forward of Juan Soto, captain Aaron Decide and Anthony Rizzo.
“Once I’m going, I feel I can actually assist us within the leadoff spot,” LeMahieu stated on Wednesday. “We’ll simply sort of see how the lineup shakes out, however I’m simply excited to be a part of this lineup generally — extra excited to be a part of this lineup than in a short while.”
That’s as a result of after greater than a calendar 12 months battling lower-half woes, LeMahieu lastly feels he has a strong base beneath him, which he believes can restore his above-average capacity to drive and spray the ball.
“I’m feeling an enormous 12 months out of DJ once more,” Decide stated. “Simply the work he’s put in, the laser focus he at all times has. I really feel like he’s picked it up a notch even this 12 months coming into camp, which I’m enthusiastic about.”
Higher well being permitted LeMahieu to point out indicators of enchancment within the second half final 12 months, when he posted a .273 batting common with an .809 OPS in 60 video games, a marked enchancment over the .220 batting common and .642 OPS that LeMahieu compiled in 76 video games earlier than the All-Star break.
“Hear, final 12 months was a nasty 12 months,” LeMahieu stated. “However I positively might take some positives away from the second half, not less than. General, I’m simply seeking to flip the web page on final 12 months, collectively and individually.”
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole known as LeMahieu “a quiet chief who has a ton of respect within the room.”
“He exhibits up day-after-day,” Cole stated. “He places on a stoic persona, whether or not he’s feeling nice or he’s not feeling nice; whether or not he’s having success or he’s not. His talents on the entrance of the lineup are well-known. His on-base share ought to float someplace round .400.
“He clearly has super opposite-field capacity and energy, which performs rather well in our stadium. His veteran management and gamesmanship match rather well in that function as leadoff; his capacity to speak and see pitches, and in addition drive in runs. To see him thriving within the leadoff spot can be actually good for the Yankees.”
LeMahieu stated he labored all through the offseason, resuming coaching shortly after the Yanks’ season-ending loss on Oct. 1 in Kansas Metropolis. He spent a lot of the winter on the Yankees’ participant improvement facility in Tampa.
“The Yankees do an important job with having folks accessible to the fellows which are down right here,” LeMahieu stated. “It’s made me need to spend so much extra time down right here, particularly due to the Minor League coaches which are right here. We’re capable of hit, run, get in coaching, get within the weight room.
“Every part we’d like is down right here. So for me, there’s actually no higher place to be, with all of the assets we’ve down right here and all of the folks that wish to assist us get heading in the right direction.”
