The Yankees will be without planned-on designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton for the foreseeable due to torn tendons in both his elbows.
So for Opening Day and potentially a while beyond, New York manager will have to write a different name into the DH slot on the lineup card.
One player appears to be making his case above all the rest: Ben Rice.
MORE: Yankees reveal Opening Day starter
Rice slugged his second home run of the spring on Friday night off the Phillies’ veteran pitcher Taijuan Walker.
The sweet-swinging lefty was a 12th-round pick out of Dartmouth in 2021, but he’s made a quick impression since leaving the Ivy League.
He moved quickly through the minor leagues, and in 80 games across Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, he blasted 24 home runs.
Rice then got action in the majors, where he struggled to hit for average (.171) but hit seven home runs in 178 plate appearances while also walking more than 10 percent of the time.
He’s again been slow out of the box this spring, but his pair of home runs still likely has him in the lead for the job.
Earlier this spring, Boone said this about Rice: “He’s going to be a real hitter in this league.”
Looks like in the early going, it might specifically be as the Yankees’ designated hitter.
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