It’s hard to argue that any one player in MLB has been more vital to the overall success of his ballclub this season than D.J. LeMahieu has been to the New York Yankees.
Naturally, Gleyber Torres’ career-high 37 home runs, Gary Sanchez’s 34 dingers and the development of Domingo German have all played a part in the Yanks’ march to October.
However, it’s the 31-year-old LeMahieu, who signed a pittance of a deal back in February — two years, $24 million — after the Bombers finally abandoned any notion of a potential Manny Machado union — that has been the catalyst for the Yankees 98-53 record.