Yankees lose on walk-off, but Ben Rice is emerging as a key bat

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Spring training games may not count in the standings, but they do count when you’re trying to claim a spot on the roster. For Yankees’ Ben Rice, Monday’s contest against the Blue Jays was more proof he’s serious about securing the Yankees’ designated hitter role for Opening Day.

The Yankees ultimately lost a tight game, 6-5, in Dunedin, thanks to a walk-off homer by Toronto’s Carter Cunningham. But the real takeaway for New York was Rice, who once again displayed the power that’s turning heads this spring.

Rough start for Brent Headrick

Things started roughly for Yankees pitcher Brent Headrick, who entered with an outside chance of making the MLB roster but likely left with that dream fading. In a troubling first inning, Headrick loaded the bases without recording an out. Though he induced a double-play ball from George Springer, Bo Bichette still crossed home plate. Andrés Giménez then doubled home Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Headrick’s afternoon temporarily ended after facing just four hitters.

Thanks to spring training’s flexible pitching rules, Headrick got a second chance in the next frame. It didn’t get much better. He allowed a single to Myles Straw, which later resulted in a run when Bichette, who’d been giving Yankees pitchers trouble all afternoon, knocked him home. By the end of two innings, Toronto had built a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Yankees fight back

Yet the Yankees had reason for optimism. Rice stepped up in the fourth inning, delivering a sharp RBI single to put New York on the board. Moments later, Trent Grisham continued his impressive spring with his fourth homer, pulling the Yankees closer at 4-3.

Toronto mirrored the Yankees’ pitching strategy, briefly pulling Kevin Gausman after Grisham’s homer before bringing him back for one final out in the fourth. Still, Gausman’s struggles this spring continued, with his ERA ballooning to 7.71. While spring training numbers aren’t always indicative of regular-season performance, the Jays’ ace likely isn’t thrilled.

Rice came through again in the seventh, tying the game at four with yet another clutch hit, highlighting what’s become a breakout performance. The young slugger’s fourth home run of spring training further solidifies him as a potential power threat the Yankees desperately need. After a tough 2024, Rice appears transformed—confident, strong, and undeniably impactful.

Late drama and walk-off loss

The Yankees briefly held the lead in the eighth inning when Brenny Escanio, an infield prospect fresh from A-ball, unexpectedly went deep to give New York a 5-4 advantage. However, the Blue Jays quickly responded with two late home runs of their own, capped off by Cunningham’s dramatic walk-off blast off Baron Stuart, sealing Toronto’s 6-5 victory.

Despite the loss, the Yankees leave Dunedin with significant positives. Rice’s continued development offers hope that New York’s lineup might boast another potent bat when the season opens. On a day traditionally reserved for festive St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Yankees fans who took a break to catch this spring affair found a compelling preview of the potential in store for 2025.

Next up for the Yankees is a classic spring training rivalry game against the Red Sox, scheduled for 1:05 pm Eastern on Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Max Fried will take the mound, continuing preparations for what fans hope will be a dominant regular-season run.

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