Giancarlo Stanton’s timeline is crawling, and the Yankees are feeling the squeeze. He’s still not seeing live pitching, and while Aaron Boone insists he’s “getting close,” supporters have heard that song before. The reality? A once-vital bat is glued on the sidelines as the season rolls on.
Moreover, Ben Rice is doing more than just holding down the citadel. He’s flaring questions—real ones—about who deserves the at-bats moving forward. What was assumed to be a fill-in stretch is starting to look permanent, and the longer Stanton stalls, the louder Rice’s case gets.
So, what is the real narrative behind the escalating concern? One needs to start with the injury update that sets things off. Previously, the 35-year-old was sidelined owing to discomfort in both his elbows. But now, Aaron Boone has let out that his veteran slugger is “still mainly hitting off the Trajekt machine” which mimics live at-bats, but there’s still no sign of real-game action. Boone added, “He’s getting close to the real thing.” But as Yankees fans know too well, that phrase tends to stretch for weeks, not days. No exact timetable, no rehab games scheduled, and suddenly, the word “close” echoed more like a delay than progression.
Now, while this uncertainty lingers, there’s Ben Rice silently stealing the limelight. Or could not be so quiet anymore. For the current season, this left-handed bat is blistering .310 with 4 home runs and 5 RBIs. He’s turning heads, forcing lineup changes, and thrilling questions about who stays in and who gets bumped when the big name finally comes back to the pavilion. His bat brings balance to a right-heavy order—and that alone makes him a valuable asset in a way that stats alone don’t show.
This is where things get messier. The original plan was interim. But now that the figures are stacking and confidence is building, it’s no longer a stopgap—it’s a statement. If the veteran DH isn’t ready, this breakout bat becomes the everyday choice. But if the comeback happens soon, does Boone roll the dice on a struggling vet with a .233 average last season or keep riding the heated hand? That’s not a lineup decision—that’s a locker room test.
Aaron Boone said Giancarlo Stanton is still mainly hitting off the Trajekt machine, in addition to more outdoor movement. Boone likened the machine to getting live at-bats but said Stanton is “getting close” to the real thing. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 13, 2025
To be fair, Boone isn’t in a rush. The cautious tone around the slugger’s status says as much. Still, every day without a rehab game, every game the newbie gets on base, makes this more than just a health query. It becomes a trust issue. One guy is recovering off a machine; the other is delivering at gunpoint. There’s no easy answer here, but it’s clear who’s securing the ground.
And with each passing game, the window to keep things simple is quietly closing.
The unspoken dilemma
The biggest question now swirls around Austin Wells. Once thought to be a long-period alternative for the plate, Wells is hitting just .209, and his at-bats are slowly slipping away. Ben Rice’s hot torch is already cutting into his opportunities. While Boone trusts Wells for his defensive instincts and rapport with pitchers, offense talks—and Rice is screaming, the Yankees all at once have a positional logjam on their hands.
However, it is not just related to Rice and Wells. Boone has also chewed over multiple contingency plans. If a talent such as Anthony Rizzo goes down, players like Oswaldo Cabrera, Trent Grisham, and Jon Berti all have the potential to slide into first base. Additionally, other talents like J.C. Escarra and Dominic Smith are being considered for the designated hitter role, increasing competition for at-bats.
Meanwhile, Aaron Judge has also seen time as a DH in spring training, giving Boone even more alternatives to balance the lineup. These overlapping prospects are forcing the Yankees to confront the bigger problem: how to optimize their roster and maximize offensive yield without disrupting the bullpen’s chemistry. The Yankees’ depth could be a strength, but managing it effectively is the real summon for Boone and his coaching staff.
The Yankees’ lineup dilemma is no longer a future problem—it’s straightened out now. Stanton’s return remains cryptic, Rice’s rise is undeniable, and decisions loom large. Will the team prioritize past reputation or current production? Stay locked in—this storyline could shape the Yankees’ 2025 playoff push. Let us know your thoughts on it below.
The post Yankees Receive Concerning Giancarlo Stanton Update Amid Growing Uncertainty Surrounding Ben Rice’s Role appeared first on EssentiallySports.
