Yankees notes: Gerrit Cole may get on a mound next week, DJ LeMahieu suffers setback

Prior to the early departure, Boone said that the plan was for LeMahieu to play in four minor league games on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Boone said there was a “chance” LeMahieu would join the Yankees for their trip to Baltimore next week, but that’s now unlikely.

Rizzo says he’s fine

Anthony Rizzo took a .227 average and just one home run into Tuesday’s action. The typically slick fielder has also made a few mishaps in the field this season.

Because the first baseman played and scuffled through post-concussion symptoms last year, some have wondered if he is OK. Rizzo has also had recurring back issues in the past.

“Yeah,” Rizzo succinctly said Monday when asked if he’s healthy.

As for his struggles, Rizzo said, “It’s a grind. Take it one day at a time. I’m seeing the ball well. I just have to take better swings.”

Rizzo did exactly that on Tuesday, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning. Prior to that, Boone said the veteran could benefit from being a little more selective.

“He’s probably chasing results a little bit [and] aware that he hasn’t hit for a lot of power yet,” Boone said. “So maybe even by his standards, you start expanding a little bit more.”

The Vriel deal

Back on April 1, it was announced that Yankees pitching prospect Trystan Vrieling would make his affiliated pro debut at Double-A Somerset. The 2022 third-round pick spent his draft year at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, and he missed the 2023 campaign with a stress fracture in his elbow.

Still, the Yankees felt the 23-year-old could handle Double-A.

“I think they feel good about a college kid with a pretty good pedigree who throws strikes,” Matt Blake told the Daily News when the decision was made. “They felt good about pushing him a little bit.”

Vrieling has responded well to the nudge, recording a 0.48 ERA, 18 strikeouts and six walks over three starts and 18 2/3 innings. The righty, ranked the Yankees’ 23rd-best prospect by MLB.com, most recently held the Hartford Yard Goats hitless over 7 2/3 innings on April 19.

On Tuesday, Vrieling was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week.