DJ LeMаһіeu returns to Yаnkees’ lіneuр іn unfаmіlіаr sрot

DJ LeMahieu returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday in an unfamiliar spot: batting ninth.

In an indication of how deep and balanced the lineup has become rather than what they think of LeMahieu, the veteran third baseman brought up the rear Tuesday in his season debut in the series opener against the Angels.

“I wouldn’t change a whole lot with our offense right now,” LeMahieu said with a grin before the game at Angel Stadium. “But I’m looking forward to it. I’m just looking forward to being part of the lineup and lurk down there in the bottom of the order.”

DJ LeMahieu, hitting an RBI double during spring training, returns to the Yankees lineup on Tuesday vs. the Angels

Though manager Aaron Boone had spoken this spring about wanting LeMahieu to be his leadoff hitter, that was before the 35-year-old suffered a non-displaced foot fracture from fouling a ball off himself, which ended up costing him two months of the season, and before Anthony Volpe entrenched himself at the top of the lineup.

Still, the Yankees were excited to finally get LeMahieu back, making what has been one of the majors’ most productive lineups even deeper — as long as he is fully past his foot issue.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Boone said. “I just know how much he’s wanted to get back in there and be with these guys and be a part of this. He is already such a big part of it, but I know that getting him back in the lineup and the length he can add to our lineup is great.”

Boone spoke to LeMahieu on Monday about batting ninth and was not surprised that he was willing to do whatever the team needed.

“The unselfishness to completely not make it about him, which wasn’t surprising, is who he is,” Boone said. “A great example to the rest of the club.”

Boone had big expectations for LeMahieu this spring before he went down with the injury, in part because of how the contact-oriented hitter was the healthiest he had been in a while.

LeMahieu had the end of his 2022 season derailed after breaking a bone in his big right toe and tearing a ligament in the second toe, which then affected his mechanics in the first half of 2023.

DJ LeMahieu returns to the Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday and is hitting ninth

LeMahieu, who still has three years and $45 million left on his contract (including this year), was a shell of himself for the first half of last season, batting just .219 with a .286 on-base percentage and .643 OPS through his first 74 games.

But in the second half — which also coincided with the arrival of new hitting coach Sean Casey, who clicked well with LeMahieu — he started to look more like himself.

Over his final 62 games, LeMahieu hit .272 with a .374 on-base percentage and .803 OPS.

“Just a consistent, quality at-bat,” Boone said. “Elite defender. Defensive versatility, too, for that matter to be able to play a few positions along the infield. But just a consistent presence. With the way the guys are swinging the bat as a group, a chance to really make it a long lineup.”

LeMahieu, who owns a career .354 on-base percentage, could become yet another table-setter if he can get on base regularly in front of Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge out of the nine-hole.

“I would have rather been playing with them, but obviously it’s been a special start to the season,” LeMahieu said. “Just looking forward to being part of it.”

The only other time LeMahieu had hit ninth in the Yankees’ lineup came in his first two games with the team in 2019.

Soon enough, he supplanted Brett Gardner as the regular leadoff man.

But he also hit ninth 27 times with the Rockies, so it is not completely unfamiliar.

As for his physical condition, LeMahieu said he had no issues on his rehab assignment and was “ready to go.” Boone said he might play LeMahieu all three games of this series before giving him an off day Friday in San Francisco.

“See how he’s responding and we’ll listen to his body and see what we’re looking at,” Boone said. “I plan on [him], if nothing else, being regular.”