The experienced infielder DJ LeMahieu is anticipated back, and the New York Yankees are thrilled about it because they could really need his services after another utility guy went down with an injury.
Just prior to the season began, the Yankees acquired Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins, and he was logging time at third base sharing time with Oswaldo Cabrera.
Regretfully, Berti was put on the 10-day injury list after being diagnosed with a left groyne strain. It appears that Berti injured a muscle on Wednesday against the Marlins late in the game, and he will require a few days off.
Thankfully, the injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, but 34-year-old Berti is expected to play a significant role this year after having one of his greatest seasons in 2023.
Boone stated on Saturday, “I don’t think it’s too severe, but I don’t have a timeline for you.”
The Yankees Know Berti Can Offer Good Support on Both Sides of the Ball
Bertie hit .294/.344/.405 last season across 133 games, including seven homers, 33 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He stole 41 bags from Miami back in 2022, showcasing his speed.
Defensively, he’s one of the better defenders the Yankees have had at the position in quite some time, posting 5 defensive runs saved and 2 outs above average on the hot corner last year.
He has already had one out over average and two defensive runs saved in 49 innings this season. Nevertheless, he had offensive struggles, and the Bombers switched to Cabrera when LeMahieu recovered.
As of right now, Cabrera is the lone utility player on the club, but with injuries starting to mount, he will need to start at third base. But in his first 12 games, the 25-year-old has excelled at the plate, hitting.289/.347/.533, with three home runs, 11 RBIs, a strikeout percentage of 22.4%, an 8.2% walk rate, and a 154 wRC+.
The Yankees need Cabrera to be in his typical super-utility role to help offset injuries and weaknesses, and LeMahieu’s return will probably force him back into that role.
