The New York Yankees faced a significant setback at the onset of spring training when it was announced that Giancarlo Stanton was grappling with an injury. Manager Aaron Boone compared it to tennis elbow, with Stanton experiencing such intense pain that he hadn’t swung a bat for over a month leading up to camp.

When no solutions were found, it became evident that their former MVP would start the season on the bench. Stanton’s tenure with the Yankees has been marred by injuries. Despite playing in 158 games during his first season with the team in 2018, he has missed at least 23 games annually since then. The Yankees are aware they will need to fill his spot in the lineup eventually; it was just a question of timing. This year, it began right away.

Alongside his elbow injuries, he was also dealing with a calf issue. However, recent updates have been encouraging, as the injuries appear less severe than initially feared. While Stanton will still be out for some time, he is expected to return in time to prepare for what the team hopes will be another successful postseason run.

That is when he truly excels, delivering outstanding performances in the playoffs. His achievements in last year’s postseason were all the more remarkable considering he had been coping with these elbow problems since the previous summer. Ensuring he is as healthy as possible for the end-of-season push is a wise strategy by the organization, but other players will need to step up during his absence.

Ben Rice is likely to take on most of the designated hitter duties. His MLB debut in 2024 was not impressive, with a disappointing .171/.264/.349 slash line over 178 plate appearances. With a -0.4 WAR and 72 OPS+, his performance was well below average. Nonetheless, some underlying statistics offered a brighter outlook. He hit seven home runs with a 3.9% home run rate, surpassing the 3.0% MLB average. His walk rate of 11.2% was also above average, and when he connected with the ball, he hit it hard with an average exit velocity of 90 mph.

This spring, his keen eye at the plate and power were evident once more. Rice drew seven walks and hit five home runs and two doubles in 70 plate appearances, consistently making strong contact. Few players matched his ability to hit the ball with such force during spring training.

All these positives contribute to an audacious prediction made by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic (subscription required) for New York in a recent article. “With additional muscle gained during the offseason, Ben Rice, the anticipated designated hitter replacement for Giancarlo Stanton, will hit at least 30 home runs and be considered for the American League All-Star Game,” he wrote.

As a left-handed batter playing half his games at Yankee Stadium, Rice has more home run opportunities than most. Combine that with the enhancements made in the offseason and his immense power, and he has the potential to rank among the league leaders in home runs.