The New York Yankees are facing a critical roster decision as Opening Day draws near—determining who will step into the designated hitter role while Giancarlo Stanton recovers from injury.
Stanton’s placement on the injured list seems inevitable as elbow problems that troubled him last season have intensified during the offseason. The 35-year-old power hitter entered spring training without having swung a bat in several weeks.
With uncertainty surrounding his return timeline, the Yankees are evaluating internal candidates. Out of three potential names, two players have emerged as frontrunners: Ben Rice, the catcher-first baseman, and Dominic Smith, the veteran first baseman. Both offer distinctive qualities as they vie for playing time in the Yankees’ challenging lineup. Third, J.C. Escarra will most likely provide backup to Austin Wells, instead of being a designated hitter.
Rice builds strength, seeks breakthrough
Rice dedicated his offseason to physical development in preparation for what he hopes will become his first complete major league season. Following his MLB debut last year, he deliberately added muscle mass, collaborating with Yankees dietitian Drew Weisberg on nutritional strategies.
“I just felt like I had some room to fill out,” the Yankees rookie said. “Figured it wouldn’t hurt.”
His nutrition regimen concentrated on “plenty of chicken, red meat, potatoes, vegetables… and rice.” The physical transformation has become evident during spring training.
“It’s a healthy weight gain,” said Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus. “I can really see [the muscle] in his upper body area.”
This additional strength could prove valuable for Rice, who saw numerous deep drives fall short of home runs last season. Throughout 50 games with the Yankees in 2024, he batted just .171, though advanced metrics indicate unfortunate results. His expected slugging percentage (.459) exceeded his actual slugging percentage (.349) by 110 points, marking him as one of baseball’s most unlucky hitters relative to contact quality.
Despite these challenges, Rice maintained confidence in his approach.
“I had a stretch there where the ball just wasn’t bouncing my way,” Rice said. “Process was good. And then I did feel like I had a stretch where I was actually struggling. It was kind of just a double whammy.”
Rice’s plate discipline and hard contact ability remain strengths. His 15.6% barrel rate last season tied for 13th-best among all hitters with at least 100 balls in play.
With Stanton unavailable, Rice could split time between DH duties and backing up at catcher or first base. Yankees hitting coach James Rowson notes positive development in the 26-year-old’s approach.
“What I see is experience taking flight,” Rowson said. “We saw what he can do when he’s going well. You learn from the times that you’re not going really well. You take that into the offseason and you make some adjustments.”
How Rice performs in the remaining spring training games could determine his Opening Day assignment.
Smith’s career renaissance overshadows everything
Unlike Rice, Dominic Smith brings considerable major league experience to the table. The 29-year-old has appeared in parts of seven MLB seasons, moving between organizations after the Mets non-tendered him following the 2022 campaign.
Smith now seeks to revitalize his career with the Yankees. Since joining on a minor-league contract this offseason, he has impressed both with his bat and his clubhouse presence.
“The makeup has been incredible,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “I’ve known him from across the field and a ‘Hi’ here and there, but what a great guy. He kind of brings a joy to the field every day.”
Smith’s baseball journey began in Compton, California, where he navigated challenging circumstances while pursuing his dreams.
“Being from that area, you could go one or two ways depending on your family structure or your support system that you have,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen some guys go the wrong way and end up in the streets and end up in prison.”
Smith credits his family and MLB’s Compton Youth Academy for keeping him focused. Originally a standout high school pitcher whose fastball reached 94 mph, the Mets ultimately selected him as a hitter with the 11th overall pick in 2013.
His career has shown flashes of brilliance—particularly in 2020 when he hit .316 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in the shortened season—though consistency has proven elusive since.
Smith is making the most of his Yankees opportunity, beginning spring training impressively with a .318 average, two home runs, and a team-leading 10 RBIs through eight games.
“I feel more athletic. I feel better balanced. I feel confident, I feel strong,” Smith said. “A lot of that was just going back to what I did in high school, which is being more of an athletic ballplayer.”
Boone acknowledges Smith could play a meaningful role with Stanton sidelined.
“I feel like we have a lot of good options in the mix in varying roles and Dom’s certainly in the middle of that,” Boone said.
Yankees consider multiple approaches
Beyond Rice and Smith, the Yankees might implement a rotating DH system. Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger could all see occasional DH duty, providing Boone with matchup flexibility throughout the season.
The organization might also explore external additions through the trade market or by signing available free agents who could offer proven production during Stanton’s absence.
Whatever direction they choose, a decision looms as Opening Day approaches. Meanwhile, Rice and Smith continue competing for their opportunity in baseball’s most storied franchise.
Competitors embrace Yankees challenge
Rice focuses on contributing however he can to team success.
“I need to anticipate how they’re going to pitch me,” he said. “It’s a game of chess. You gotta lean on what you do well and then also at times find the right spots to pick out when you think they’re gonna do something to you. Control what you can control, swing at the right pitches, work good at-bats, make quality contact. That’s all it is.”
For Smith, joining the Yankees represents a cherished opportunity.
“Just be a part of this historic organization, it was a no-brainer coming here,” Smith said. “If I’m on the bench every day or in Scranton, whatever the case may be, just having the opportunity to show my knowledge to the young kids can be helpful.”
As spring training concludes, both players aim to strengthen their cases. The Yankees’ ultimate decision could significantly influence their early-season trajectory.
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