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PHILADELPHIA — DJ LeMahieu has quickly gone from getting a runway to work out of his slump to being a late-game replacement.
The Yankees’ veteran infielder was on the bench for a fourth straight game Monday before pinch hitting for Ben Rice in the eighth inning against lefty reliever Gregory Soto in a 14-4 win over the Phillies.
Oswaldo Cabrera had started all three games at third base against the Red Sox over the weekend before the newly acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. got his first career start there on Monday and looked right at home in addition to swatting two home runs.
LeMahieu, who got into all three games in Boston as a defensive replacement for Rice, is expected to slot back into the lineup on Wednesday when the Yankees face left-hander Cris Sanchez.
But beyond that, his opportunities appear to be dwindling.
“I think it’s been challenging certainly for him,” manager Aaron Boone said before Monday’s game. “Obviously anything can happen over the next 24 hours, but we got a lefty on Wednesday. I plan on him being in there. Then there’ll be matchups that he’ll have opportunities to get back in there.
“His glove off the bench is really important, his versatility. And then the fact that this guy’s a great hitter. He’s working through some things. You don’t want to close the door on him being able to unlock those things.”
The 36-year-old LeMahieu, who still has two years and $30 million left on his contract after this season, entered Monday batting .176 with a .490 OPS in 45 games.
His extended struggles — which came after missing the first two months of the season with a non-displaced foot fracture — led the Yankees to trade for Chisholm and use him at third base, where he had never played professionally before Monday.
After popping into Boone’s office on Saturday at Fenway Park to make sure his manager knew he was still feeling strong, Luis Gil continued to look strong.
The rookie right-hander struck out eight while giving up three runs in 5 ¹/₃ innings against a powerful Phillies lineup, with Boone saying he pitched “outstanding” and better than his line.
As for Gil’s meeting on Saturday with Boone?
“I just told him that I feel ready for a long season — for a full, complete season,” Gil said through an interpreter.
The Yankees designated Jahmai Jones for assignment on Monday to make room for Giancarlo Stanton’s return from the injured list.
Jones, who was out of minor league options, had been with the Yankees since Opening Day but only played sparingly off the bench.
The 26-year-old infielder/outfielder was batting .238 with a .685 OPS in 33 games, only 10 of which were starts.
Still, he had plenty of fans within the clubhouse for the energy he brought and could remain with the organization at Triple-A if he goes unclaimed.
The Yankees signed fourth-round pick Gage Ziehl, a right-hander out of the University of Miami, on Monday.
Their only unsigned draft pick is now 20th-rounder Cole Royer, a high school pitcher out of Georgia.
