It is safe to say that DJ LeMahieu has exceeded all expectations that were set before the season about his performance. While he was a highly-regarded contact hitter with a versatile glove, even the Yankees are (pleasantly) surprised by the infielder’s overall offensive prowess. He started the season without a clear path to consistent playing time, and now, several months later, DJ LeMahieu is the team leader in WAR, by a comfortable margin, with a career-high 4.8.
So, what changed for a player that used to put up good, but not great offensive outputs in the past?