Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided updates on a few injured players ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Rangers…
Ben Rice’s progress
The young Yankees slugger is out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game after being hit in the hand by a pitch in Sunday’s matchup with the Orioles.
The Yankees skipper was asked what Rice would need to do to be used off the bench, and Boone said the next few hours will determine the first baseman’s availability.
“He hasn’t really started hitting yet,” Boone said. “If he starts doing some light hitting and then can ramp it up even more, and do the things he needs to do to get a swing off, then we’ll have a conversation. We’ll see how the next few hours are here.”
Rice has been the Yankees’ most consistent hitter and their most dangerous bat alongside Aaron Judge. In 33 games, Rice is hitting .342 with an OPS of 1.214 to go along with his 12 home runs and 27 RBI.
Carlos Rodon’s next start
Rodon is set to make his latest rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday night. Boone was asked if everything went well in this start, whether the southpaw’s next step will be to return to the Yankees, and the manager confirmed that.
Tuesday will be Rodon’s third rehab start since offseason elbow surgery. His first start was with High-A Hudson Valley, where he allowed one hit and one walk over 4.1 innings. His second start saw him dominate Double-A with Somerset. Rodon struck out eight batters and allowed one run on five hits across 5.1 innings on April 30.
Aaron Boone says if all goes well with Carlos Rodón’s next rehab start, he’s expected to make his next start for the Yankees: pic.twitter.com/EBHmKU9cT7
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 5, 2026
Latest on Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole
Boone was also asked about both Stanton and Cole, and where they both were in their separate recoveries.
On Stanton, Boone revealed that the slugger has started to hit in the cage but is still not running as he recovers from a calf strain. Boone did say the calf injury is lingering a “little bit” but they are taking their time with it.
“It still feels minor, but not ready to push it yet,” Boone said.
As for Cole, Boone was asked if the former Cy Young winner was going to make a couple of more starts before returning to the team. The Yankees skipper tempered expectations, saying Cole is “still a little ways away.”
Cole is set to take the mound for High-A Hudson Valley on Tuesday night. The right-hander has made three previous rehab starts between Hudson Valley and Somerset. In those starts, he’s allowed a combined seven earned runs across 14.1 innings (5.40 ERA), allowing 11 hits, one walk and striking out 10 batters.