After Giancarlo Stanton Injury News This Hitter’s Roster Spot is a Lock

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Mar 18, 2025 12:27 PM ET

As the Yankees front office and coaching staff meet Tuesday to finalize their Opening Day roster, Ben Rice has little reason to be concerned. The 25-year-old has had a standout spring, making his case not just to make the roster but to play a significant role early in the season. His fourth home run of the spring on Monday was just the latest example of the power surge that has made him one of the Yankees’ most productive hitters in camp.

“It’s impressive,” manager Aaron Boone told the New York Post. “He can hit. It’s real juice everywhere.”

Rice came into camp with an improved frame, having added 10 pounds of muscle since last June, particularly in his upper body. The result has been added power, something he has shown consistently in games.

“It definitely helps,” Rice told reporters. “It’s just putting more force in the ball, more mass behind it. Put it in the air, good things are going to happen.”

While Rice has spent time behind the plate this spring, the Yankees are expected to carry three left-handed hitting catchers, with Austin Wells likely getting the bulk of the starts and J.C. Escarra serving as a traditional backup. That could leave Rice in a more flexible role, logging at-bats as a designated hitter while Giancarlo Stanton recovers from injury.

Rice also has experience at first base, having filled in for Anthony Rizzo last summer during his first stint in the majors. His versatility gives the Yankees another reason to keep him in the lineup.

With just over a week left until Opening Day, many of the Yankees’ roster battles remain unsettled. The rotation, third base, and a potential right-handed bat are still being debated.

But Rice has done everything he can to prove he belongs. With Stanton sidelined, his bat will be a key part of the Yankees’ plans when the season begins.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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