Yankees recall Jon Berti from Triple-A after stint on 60-day IL
Yankees third baseman Jon Berti throws to first base during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in an MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Yankees added some defensive versatility to their roster, as well as a bat that can handle lefthanded pitching, recalling utilityman Jon Berti from Triple-A on Monday after a lengthy stint on the 60-day injured list.
Berti, who suffered a left calf strain on May 24, was recalled from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on the same day the Yankees called up Jasson Dominguez. The Yankees optioned Duke Ellis on Sunday to make room for Berti and put DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement) on the 10-day IL retroactive to Sept. 6 on Monday. They also designated lefty Anthony Misiewicz for assignment.
Berti, 34, was tearing it up in the minors, going 9-for-17 in four games with the RailRiders, and slashed .311/.407/.467 in 14 total minor-league games. He played mostly third base and leftfield there and hasn’t been told about his current role with the Yankees, though a good guess would be “pretty much a little bit of everything.”
“I’m ready for anything,” he said. “Throughout my career, I’ve played all over the field — anywhere but first base, pitcher, catcher . . . I started to feel like I [was hitting] pretty well toward the end there [in the minors] and I’m feeling pretty good coming into today.”
The news was far less positive for LeMahieu, who’s been suffering from hip issues for some time, Aaron Boone said, and has had a very down season. LeMahieu, 36, was set to get an MRI on Monday, and Boone said he isn’t sure if the infielder will play again this season.
“It’s been something that’s been kind of lingering the last couple of weeks,” Boone said. “He’s been getting treatment on it. It’s better some days, worse the others . . . It could be the result of the wear and tear and the rigors of the season.”
LeMahieu suffered a broken foot in March, costing him the first month of the season, and hasn’t played since last Tuesday. He’s hitting .204 in 67 games with two homers and 26 RBIs.
Stroman Clemente nominee
Marcus Stroman was named the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for public service, his third such nomination. Stroman in 2019 began the “Height Doesn’t Measure Heart Foundation,” which looks to provide opportunities for young people from inner cities and underserved areas.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
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