Yankees' DJ LeMahieu benched amid season-long slump - ESPN

NEW YORK — Back in March, the New York Yankees were resolute that DJ LeMahieu would bat leadoff in front of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. They were confident that the two-time batting champion would rebound from three subpar, injury-plagued seasons.

Four months later, after battling a major foot injury and almost daily struggles at the plate, LeMahieu is far from the table-setter the Yankees envisioned. He was on the bench Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Oswaldo Cabrera getting the start at third base.

LeMahieu, in the fourth year of a six-year deal worth $90 million, has been one of the worst-hitting regular players in the majors since rejoining the Yankees in late May and has recently been New York's No. 9 hitter, at the bottom of a lineup desperate for steady production beyond Soto and Judge.

LeMahieu, 35, entered Sunday batting .177 with a .471 on-base plus slugging percentage in 39 games.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged before Sunday's game that LeMahieu could be out of the lineup next week as well.

«We'll see,» Boone said. «Get through today, and we'll see where we're at.»

Boone hinted Friday that LeMahieu would not start Sunday's series finale. But Boone then said Saturday that he believed LeMahieu has «earned» the right to play through a slump that has lasted two months.

«It sucks. It's not fun,» LeMahieu said. «I will say our team's a special team. Showing up with a special team, a special group keeps me going, for sure.»

LeMahieu has been even worse over the past month, slashing .156/.250/.203 with three extra-base hits. The performance has drawn scorn from fans who showered him with boos both Friday and Saturday, when he went a combined 0-for-7 with two strikeouts.

«I mean, it hasn't given me