The New York Yankees have been without Giancarlo Stanton all season as he was dealing with injuries in both elbows. However, the star slugger is inching toward a return.
The Yankees announced that Stanton will start a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. Stanton is expected to serve as the designated hitter, and since he is not going to be playing in the field, his rehab assignment could be fairly short.
The Yankees lead Major League Baseball in home runs, despite not having Stanton and losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets. Now, they figure to add one of the best home run hitters of this generation. Stanton is the active leader in home runs with 429 in his 15-year career. 162 of those home runs have come in a Yankees uniform.
Stanton will likely return to regular designated hitter duties after he returns, even if the Yankees want to ease him back in. However, when Stanton does become the everyday designated hitter, Ben Rice’s playing time could take a significant hit. Rice can play first base and catcher, but both spots are taken in New York.
In Stanton’s absence, Rice has served as the primary designated hitter and is having a breakout season. Rice is hitting .241, but has an .825 OPS and 12 home runs. He has given Aaron Boone something to think about because it will be hard to justify not having him in the lineup on a nightly basis.
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At first, the Yankees will likely have Rice and Stanton split time at designated hitter. However, when Stanton is back and ready to play every day, Rice will need a new spot. Stanton had seven home runs in the postseason last year, and the Yankees will get a big boost if he picks up where he left off.
Until Stanton makes his debut in the big leagues this season, the Yankees will keep playing Rice at designated hitter. However, his playing time will become a topic of discussion if Stanton is playing like himself and takes the everyday designated hitter job back. Rice could also see time split between first base and designated hitter, giving Paul Goldschmidt some more off days.
Regardless of what the Yankees do, it will be tough to get Stanton, Rice and Goldschmidt in the lineup together. However, Rice stands to lose the most playing time of the three.
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