The New York Yankees love their veterans—sometimes a little too much. But with DJ LeMahieu struggling at third and Giancarlo Stanton redefining “designated hitter” as “designated out,” the lineup desperately needs a spark.
And now, the Yankees’ lineup woes may have found a solution—the homegrown slugger, Ben Rice. The 2021 12th-round pick, who’s now making a powerful statement after his stunning three-homer game against the Red Sox, might just force his way into the conversation.
By bulking in the off-season, he has started to hit the balls even harder. He himself acknowledged saying, “I think the ball is coming off the bat harder, for sure.” This shows that the work he did in the off-season is paying off. And with a major injury to Giancarlo Stanton, he might be the right fit.
The main reason Stanton was known for was his power-hitting and Rice is no less. Filling the shoes of Giancarlo Stanton won’t be easy, but maybe, not impossible for Rice!
Looks like Ben’s been eating his chicken and rice
Ben Rice has added 10 pounds of muscle over the winter, and believes he’s hitting the ball even HARDER this spring#Yankees pic.twitter.com/lUqOeQ1s4i
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) February 25, 2025
But if he plays well, this might not be his only position.
The New York Yankees have another major problem at 3rd base. DJ LeMahieu has become one of the biggest headaches for the team in recent seasons. His batting and fielding, both have taken a dip. And if this continues, Rice might just replace him.
Ben Rice is primarily a 1st base player but, we have seen players like Miguel Cabrera shift from first to third and perform well. So with him as an inspiration, the New York Yankees can train Rice for third if things start to look down on DJ LeMahieu.
The Yankees have a choice—keep waiting for DJ LeMahieu to find his lost form or take a bold step with a rising star.
DJ LeMahieu’s decline: How much longer can the New York Yankees wait
DJ LeMahieu’s bat has gone cold, his glove isn’t what it used to be, and the clock is ticking.
During his time with the Yankees, DJ LeMahieu experienced a major negative turn that affected both his batting performance and defensive abilities. LeMahieu could not show his reliable hitting abilities. In 2024, he finished the season with a .204 batting average along with a subpar .527 OPS.
LeMahieu showed decreased defensive ability as he made three mistakes during 67 games while his fielding percentage dropped to .990.
Once a cornerstone of the lineup, LeMahieu’s current struggles raise serious questions about his role.
LeMahieu continuously battles with health issues, too. The right hip impingement condition forced the manager to put him on the 10-day injured list in September 2024. During a decisive part of the season, the injury forced him to sit out while making future durability concerns emerge about his condition.
The New York Yankees find themselves in a difficult situation since they have two years of commitment at $30 million to pay LeMahieu.
The Yankees’ patience with their veteran infielder is wearing thin. After all, even the most storied franchises can’t afford to let nostalgia dictate their lineup. As Ben Rice seems ready to smash the door down, do you think the Bronx Bombers would choose to move forward with him?
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