How Yankees’ infield depth is further challenged with DJ LeMahieu’s injury situation

NEW YORK – DJ LeMahieu was heading for additional medical tests Wednesday, and the Yankees were back to crossing their fingers about his condition.

Coming back from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot, LeMahieu felt good leading up to Tuesday’s minor league rehab assignment.

In fact, he’d been frustrated about the club’s insistence that he wait another 3-4 days to begin, per the recommendation of a specialist.

But during one inning of play Tuesday with Class AA Somerset, LeMahieu’s foot “felt sore all of a sudden,’’ said Yankees GM Brian Cashman.

“I don’t think anything specific created (the discomfort). It just developed.’’

LeMahieu was expected to play four rehab games and join the Yankees at Baltimore for Monday’s series opener against the Orioles.

Now, the Yankees are waiting to see if “he needs a few more weeks’’ of rest, or if some new injury, or a significant re-injury has occurred.

“Hopefully, it’s just a short little setback in his ramp-up,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, waiting on the results of LeMahieu’s latest MRI and CT scan.

LeMahieu originally injured himself by fouling a ball off his foot on March 16, during a spring training exhibition game.

On Tuesday at Redding, Penn., LeMahieu struck out as Somerset’s leadoff hitter and played one defensive inning at third base before exiting the game and traveling back to New York.

“DJ, really for the last two weeks, he’s felt really good,’’ said Boone, who liked the way his veteran infielder looked during on-field drills and with his recovery.

“I wouldn’t say overly concerned yet,’’ Boone said of LeMahieu’s condition. “(I’m) glad he said something (since) DJ’s usually so tough about playing through things.’’

Despite his disappointment at not being permitted to begin his rehab assignment last Friday, LeMahieu has “been very much on board’’ with the Yankees’ conservative approach to his rehab.

“This may be a case where, in the past, he’d try to grind through it,’’ said Boone. “We want to make sure this thing is good to go once he’s ready to roll.’’

In the meantime, the Yankees will still use Oswaldo Cabrera mainly at third base, while also awaiting veteran infielder Jon Berti’s return from a groin injury.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman on Juan Soto: ‘His personality fits the team, our fan base’

Berti has ramped up his baseball activity to the point where he could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend, according to Boone.

“It’s not the perfect situation for us right now,’’ Boone said of the club’s infield shortage at the big-league level, with Oswald Peraza (shoulder strain) also working his way back and no true backups at shortstop or first base.

Cabrera is the default backup at both those spots, not ideal when he’s starting at third base.

“We’re a little vulnerable right now,’’ Cashman said of his infield depth issue, made more challenging when the Yankees claimed outfielder Taylor Trammell off waivers and designated infielder Kevin Smith, since outrighted to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

If Cabrera isn’t available to sub for first baseman Anthony Rizzo, the Yankees could be in a bind. To that end, catcher Austin Wells and outfielder Trent Grisham have been taking groundballs at first base before games.

Wells has played some at first base. Grisham has never played first base as a pro, but he said he’s had experience at the position prior to his minor league days and the first base glove he uses is his own and not borrowed.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: DJ LeMahieu injury challenges Yankees infield depth