Bold start: The Yankees will kick off the season with key players sidelined by injuries, including Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Anthony Volpe. Here’s the latest on the rest of the roster, including a confusing neck setback for Ben Rice.
Ben Rice’s neck issue isn’t stemming from the field. He explained to reporters, “I fall asleep in one position and wake up in another, something everyone deals with.” (Source: NY Post via Greg Joyce).
Despite the minor nature of the problem, Rice hasn’t yet taken batting practice in spring training. He did catch Rodon’s bullpen on Saturday, which suggests his return won’t be long delayed. For now, Rice is expected to function primarily as a backup catcher behind Austin Wells while Mingling time at first base remains his main role, even after the Yankees re-signed Paul Goldschmidt.
Rice had a breakout season previously, posting an impressive .836 OPS, 26 home runs, and 65 RBIs over 138 games, underscoring why he remains a key depth option for the Yankees.
For more on Ben Rice and the Yankees, visit AMNY.com.
