Giancarlo Stanton’s Return Looms, But Ben Rice’s Role Likely Secure for Now
There’s still no clear timeline for when Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will return from his current injury. But when he does, what does that mean for his fill-in, Ben Rice? Brendan Kuty of The Athletic weighed in on the situation.
“The simple answer is the Yankees would likely keep giving Rice DH opportunities, particularly against right-handed pitchers, while Stanton works his way back into everyday action,” Kuty explained. “They could also use Rice to give Paul Goldschmidt occasional days off at first base, especially in the heat of summer.”
Rice, 26, is showing early signs of a breakout season. The lefty-hitting utility man has been on fire at the plate, posting a .306/.419/.667 slash line with a 1.085 OPS in just 43 plate appearances, along with three homers and two doubles.
Even with Stanton’s return on the horizon, Rice’s hot bat should keep him in the lineup. If he keeps hitting like this, manager Aaron Boone will have no choice but to find him regular at-bats.
Of course, Stanton’s return will still be a big boost for the Yankees. While he might not be at his former MVP level, he remains one of the game’s premier right-handed power threats. Pairing him with Aaron Judge in the heart of the lineup only adds more depth and danger for opposing pitchers.
That said, Stanton’s return date remains up in the air, making Rice’s current impact all the more vital.
The Yankees sit at 7-5 on the season. While they’ve had a bit of a rollercoaster start, this team has the pieces to catch fire and go on a strong run.
