DJ LeMahieu, the Birmingham Brother Rice legend who spent 15 seasons dazzling fans across Major League Baseball, is trading his bat for a clipboard—at least for now. On Wednesday, the four-time Gold Glove winner, three-time All-Star, and two-time batting champion was named the new manager of the Royal Oak Leprechauns, a college summer baseball team in the Northwoods League.
It's a homecoming for LeMahieu, 37, who grew up in the Metro Detroit area and has long been a supporter of the Leprechauns. After being released by the New York Yankees last summer—and officially saying goodbye to the Big Apple in an emotional Instagram post late last month—LeMahieu is stepping into the dugout at Royal Oak's Memorial Park, near Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road.
"He cares deeply about building a culture players want to be part of," said Leprechauns general manager Danny Weiss. "DJ has been hands-on throughout the entire offseason, and that's meant everything to our staff. As he steps into the field manager role, that same commitment carries over to the players he leads."
LeMahieu isn't closing the door on playing just yet—he'll continue to pursue opportunities on the field—but for now, he's focused on leading the Leprechauns, who kick off their season at home on May 25. The field itself has undergone major renovations in recent years, upgrades that LeMahieu helped fund with his own backing.
His MLB resume is nothing short of stellar. After being drafted by the Chicago Cubs out of LSU in 2009, LeMahieu broke into the big leagues in 2011 and went on to earn batting titles in both leagues—hitting .348 for the Colorado Rockies in 2016 and .364 for the Yankees during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Over his career, he posted a .289 average with 126 home runs and 663 RBIs, while earning a reputation as one of the game's most consistent and clutch hitters.
LeMahieu made over $130 million in salary during his MLB career, including $15 million per year from the Yankees since 2021—a contract he's still drawing from for the 2026 season. But after battling injuries in 2024 and 2025, the veteran infielder is now embracing a new challenge: shaping the next generation of ballplayers in his hometown.
This is LeMahieu's first coaching job, but if his playing career is any indication, the Leprechauns are getting a leader who knows what it takes to win at the highest level. For fans in Metro Detroit, it's a chance to see a local hero back where it all began.