The New York Yankees have been riding the waves of success even with some of their heavy hitters sidelined, but the impending return of Giancarlo Stanton from a bout of tennis elbow in both arms could shake things up a bit. Stanton is gearing up for a rehab stint, and while the Yankees are thrilled to have his power back in the lineup, there's a looming question: what does this mean for the rest of the roster, especially for some of their rising stars?
Enter Ben Rice, a promising young player who’s been making quite the impression in his second year with the Yanks. With an impressive .851 OPS, Rice has been a key contributor to the Yankees’ lineup.
Dislodging him might not be the most strategic move for New York, which leaves Austin Wells potentially in the hot seat. Wells, the catcher who's participated in 47 games—starting in 41—has held his own with a .206 batting average and a .703 OPS.
Still, when you stack up the numbers, it's hard to ignore Rice's current form.
The Yankees have maintained their status as an offensive juggernaut, even managing to give some seasoned players like Paul Goldschmidt some extra downtime to recharge. This flexibility has them sitting comfortably in first place in the AL East, and second overall in the American League with a record of 35-20, chasing only the Detroit Tigers.
Stanton’s impending comeback only adds more firepower to their arsenal. Despite a challenging 2024 season with a .233 batting average, Stanton's capability to crush balls out of the park remains undeniable, evidenced by his 27 homers in the regular season and a couple more during the World Series clash with the Dodgers.
Stanton is the kind of competitor who thirsts for the ultimate triumph. His recent remarks about the 2024 season sum up his mindset: “This isn’t the one we wanted, boys,” he reminded his teammates, referring to the AL Championship ring they earned.
“The one that we want is in front of us. I’d better not see any of you guys wearing these around.”
As the Yankees gear up for Stanton’s return, one thing is clear: they’re not resting on their laurels. The team is eyeing the prize that eluded them last year, and with the way things are shaping up, they might just have the right mix to go all the way.
