C-Mac hopes to see DJ LeMahieu eventually replace Anthony Volpe in Yankees leadoff spot

DJ LeMahieu is back with the Yankees, having made his season debut on Tuesday night after completing a rehab assignment in his return from a displaced fracture in his foot.

LeMahieu, batting ninth, went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, and ripped a line drive to right center that was caught. He said after the game that he is fine batting at the bottom of the order, but C-Mac says he would want LeMahieu over Anthony Volpe in the leadoff spot if LeMahieu can hit like he did in the second half of last season.

“When Anthony Volpe first got moved to leadoff, my thought process was ‘OK, this is probably best for the team, but I don’t want him moved all over the place. I want him to be moved there and stay there,’” C-Mac said. “As I’ve watched him bat leadoff…when he gets thrown out in front of Soto, it pisses me off to a limit I can’t tolerate. I think that’s gonna limit his running. I think it’s gonna limit his ability to steal bases.”

C-Mac believes in Volpe, especially as he rides a 20-game hitting streak, but he feels Volpe’s speed can be used more effectively further down in the order, and not at the top where he is needed on base to set up Soto and Aaron Judge.

“When I watch DJ LeMahieu, if he’s going to be like last year - in the second half of last year, he hit .270 and had an on-base percentage of .370, and an OPS of .800 - those numbers are better than Volpe right now,” C-Mac said. “I’m not saying I don’t like Volpe. I do. But if DJ LeMahieu can prove, and I mean show me for a month and a half, maybe we make this decision to move him up to the leadoff spot in the second half of the season.”