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The Yankees have put together an impressive start to the 2019 campaign.
Despite suffering a plethroa of injuries to key contributors in both the lineup and pitching staff, New York currently sits in second place in the AL East at 17-13, just two games behind Tampa Bay for the division lead.
Luckily for the Yankees, it sounds like a few starters are nearing a return to the lineup.
Manager Aaron Boone joined "Mike's On" Thursday and offered updates on several of the team's injured players.
"DJ went in for his treatment today, and again was a little bit better today," Boone said on versatile infielder DJ LeMahieu, who is battling a knee injury. "We are expecting him back this weekend, whether that's Friday, whether's that's Saturday, we're not sure. But he's still got to improve a little bit to probably get back into the starting lineup. But we do feel like he's close and hopefully he turns the corner a little bit."
The Yankees have also been playing recently without outfielder Clint Frazier.
Frazier had gotten off to a hot start in 2019, hitting .324/.342/.632 with six home runs and 17 RBI in only 18 games.
The 24-year-old suffered a sprained left ankle on April 22, but it sounds as if it won't be long before he's back in New York's lineup.
"(Frazier) will have a full workout tomorrow, meaning batting practice, run the bases and defense," the manager told Mike Francesa on the young outfielder. "He's probably going to play two rehab games Saturday and Sunday, and then be back in the lineup Monday for us. That's the plan."
Frazier was never expected to be out for too long, but the same cannot be said about Miguel Andujar.
The Yankees were worried last month that the young, star infielder would have to miss the rest of the season with a right shoulder labrum tear.
However, according to the manager, Andujar could be back as soon as this weekend.
USA TODAY Images The Yankees received more good news on the injury front, as Aaron Hicks is slowly making his way back to the team.
Hicks has been sidelined all season with a lower-back strain, an injury he suffered towards the very beginning of spring training.
While his return isn't as imminent as some of his teammates, Hicks should be back in New York sooner rather than later.
"I actually just saw a video of him, he's playing today in extended, had a home run and double in his first two at-bats," the manager told Francesa on the veteran outfielder. "Between simulated games and now getting into game action, he's had about 10 or 12 at-bats. He's really ramping up. I'm sure we'll put him on an actual rehab assignment with one of our affiliates here. But he's played now back-to-back days with the extended spring. So getting full reps, playing center field. I believe he DH'd yesterday.
"Now it's just about accumulating a little bit of spring training for him and accumulating at-bats. But hopefully in the next couple of weeks he's back with us."
Unfortunately for the Yankees, it hasn't been all good news this week with injuries.
Troy Tulowitzki was looking at a possible activation from the injured list this weekend before suffering a setback on Wednesday.
Tulowitzki was removed from a minor league rehab game with Single-A Tampa, and now appears at least another week away from returning to the lineup.
"He has a mild strain of the same calf," said Boone. "I'm not sure if it's the same spot. It seems minor but it's something that's certainly going to set him back another week. He's dealing with that and that frustration."