The New York Yankees took down the Seattle Mariners 11-5 on Monday night, May 12, 2025, at T-Mobile Park, but the victory came with a heavy price. Infielder Oswaldo Cabrera, who’d been a steady presence at third base, suffered a left ankle fracture while trying to score on a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, as reported by Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Cabrera went down in pain, was stretchered off the field, and taken to a local hospital by ambulance, leaving the Yankees and their fans holding their breath. On Tuesday, the team confirmed the worst: Cabrera’s been placed on the 10-day injured list, and veteran DJ LeMahieu has been reinstated from the IL to fill the roster spot.
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t sugarcoat the severity of the moment. “I think everyone understands it was a pretty serious situation,” Boone told reporters. “Just praying for our guy Cabby tonight and hoping for the best. Trust that he’s in good hands as he goes through the night.” Despite the win—which saw Cabrera go 1-for-4 with a walk and score the team’s final run—the mood in the clubhouse was somber. “A lot of guys feeling for their teammate, who’s the best of them,” Boone added, highlighting Cabrera’s impact as a teammate. The 26-year-old has been solid this season, hitting .243 with a homer and 11 RBIs in 34 games, but now the Yankees face a challenge at the hot corner.
LeMahieu’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. The 36-year-old was originally slated to play second base after hitting well during his rehab assignment—slashing .310/.375/.452 over 12 games in Triple-A—but Cabrera’s injury might shift him to third. LeMahieu’s 2024 season was rough, batting just .204 with a .528 OPS, but his career track record as a two-time batting champ and three-time All-Star makes him a reliable option. He’s likely the Yankees’ best bet to step up behind Anthony Volpe and Paul Goldschmidt, especially with the current infield depth looking thin.
At second base, Jorbit Vivas has struggled, hitting .158 with a .515 OPS in 10 games. Pablo Reyes isn’t faring much better, batting .174 with a .414 OPS, while Oswald Peraza offers a bit more pop at .204/.278/.388 over 54 plate appearances. Peraza, a righty, could platoon with the left-handed Vivas at second or third, depending on where LeMahieu lands. Beyond the active roster, options are limited. Braden Shewmake, a lefty on the 40-man, is hitting just .197 with a 94 wRC+ in Triple-A. Andrew Velazquez and Max Burt are in the system but aren’t inspiring—Velazquez has never hit well, and Burt, at 28, has only 47 Triple-A games under his belt.
The Yankees could look outside the organization for help, but at this point in May, any available infielders would likely be low-impact additions. For now, they’ll lean on LeMahieu’s experience and hope Peraza or Vivas can step up while Cabrera heals. It’s a tough blow for a team with postseason aspirations, but Boone’s squad has the depth to weather this storm—they’ll just need their veterans to lead the way until “Cabby” is back in pinstripes.
