FIRST CHASE
LeMahieu ready to show off his versatility to be on field every day
• BIRD BATTLING TO TAKE JOB FROM VOIT
• ALONSO & DOM HAVE EYES ON THE PRIZE
TAMPA — DJ LeMahieu’s stat page speaks for itself, but he also brings an unselfishness that will likely serve him well when the Yankees move him around the infield in his first season in The Bronx.
LeMahieu, 30, was an All-Star twice with t he Rockies who signed a two-year deal worth $24 million to join an infield that houses second baseman Gleyber Torres at the position he has played the most during an eightyear career.
Going back to his days at LSU, LeMahieu di d whatever was asked of him. Now, according to Aaron Boone, the right-handed hitter will play a lot, even if Torres is the starting second baseman, Miguel Andujar is at third and Luke Voit and Greg Bird are f ighting to be the regular f irst baseman.
The plan, which can be altered by health issues, is for LeMahieu to play second, third and first.
“Obviously, I am most comfortable at second base,’’ LeMahieu said Wednesday morning before the Yankees’ second fullsquad workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “With reps and a good spring training, there will be no problem playing other positions. Actually I am looking forward to it.’’
Boone believes there is enough playing time for LeMahieu for him to be considered a full-time player.
“Best-case scenario, even early in the season, I envision Troy [Tulowitzki] getting a couple of days a week off [at shortstop]. That’s two days with Gleyber sliding over [from second to short], that’s two days for LeMahieu there. And then you get one day a week from the first base or the second base or the third base, and against a lefty maybe Miggy gets a DH day,’’ Boone sai d. “Even with everybody healthy, it’s not hard to imagine him pretty much playing every day. I honestly don’t think it will be that difficult to keep him playing.’’
In eight big-league seasons (one with the Cubs; seven with the Rockies), LeMahieu played 892 games at second (857 starts) and won Gold Gloves in 2014, 2017 and 2018. He has appeared at third base in 41 games (24 starts), four at first base (one start) and four at short (zero starts).
Asked if his preparation to move around the infield changed during the offseason, LeMahieu said he took ground balls at short and third to get ready for spring training.
With Tulowitzki and Torres available to play short until Didi Gregorius returns from Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow, LeMahieu would likely be an emergency shortstop.
As for first base, he played seven games there in 2011 for Mesa in the Arizona Fall League.
“That was a long time ago,” he said.
Winning three Gold Gloves at second means LeMahieu is athletic enough to play first. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds he provides a big target for inf ielders. And don’t forget his bat has produced a .298 career batting average and a .350 on-base percentage. He led the NL in hitting with a .348 average in 2016.
“I don’t think I will be the everyday f irst baseman by any means,’’ LeMahieu said.
If Boone’s plan is to use LeMahieu once a week at f irst, that would mean he would play about 24 games at a position where he has started once in the big leagues.
And it could be more if the left-handed Bird beats out Voit, who would then be sent to Triple-A, because Boone might be inclined to use LeMahieu’s righthanded bat against lefties.