MLB HR champ Voit back in Yankees’ lineup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Major league home run champion Luke Voit was activated from the 10-day injured list by the New York Yankees and is set to make his season debut against the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Voit, 30, had surgery March 29 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and hit .389 (7-for-18) with two doubles and three homers during a five-game injury rehabilitation assignment from May 4-9 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Voit missed the first 34 games of the Yankees, who went 18-16. He batted .277 last season with 22 homers and 52 RBIs in 213 at-bats over 56 games.

New York first basemen hit .153 (19-for-124) in his absence with three homers, 10 RBIs, 36 strikeouts and 17 walks.

In Voit’s absence, Jay Bruce played 10 games at first base and hit .118 (4-for-34) with one homer, three RBIs, 13 strikeouts, five walks, then retired.

Mike Ford played 13 at first and batted .103 (4-for-39) with two homers, four RBIs, 14 strikeouts and six walks, and DJ LeMahieu played 15 there and hit .282 (11-for-50) with no homers, three RBIs, nine strikeouts and six walks. Miguel Andújar had one game at first, going 0-for-4.

With Voit’s return, LeMahieu figures to get most of his time at second base.

The Yankees opened a roster spot for Voit on Sunday when they optioned Andújar to Scranton.