Few believed Austin Wells would thrive as the New York Yankees’ everyday catcher, yet his defensive prowess and powerful left-handed bat have silenced doubters over the past two seasons. Similarly, the team’s decision to pair Wells with J.C. Escarra, a 29-year-old converted first baseman making his big-league debut as a backup catcher, raised eyebrows. Despite skepticism, Escarra has held his own, even edging out Wells in pitch framing, ranking seventh in the majors with three catcher framing runs on just 502 pitches, per Statcast. Wells, by contrast, has four framing runs on 1,538 pitches. Escarra’s league-average bat (96 OPS+) further solidifies his value.
Now, the Yankees are poised to launch another bold experiment: giving catcher starts to Ben Rice. With Giancarlo Stanton’s return limiting Rice’s at-bats as a designated hitter and Paul Goldschmidt’s strong play and veteran status reducing opportunities at first base, the team sees catching as a way to keep Rice’s potent left-handed bat in the lineup. At 25, Rice is not expected to unseat Wells anytime soon, but if he can prove reliable behind the plate, the Yankees’ lineup could gain significant firepower.
“I think this guy’s a major-league catcher,” said catching coordinator Tanner Swanson before the Yankees’ 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, which extended their scoreless streak to 29 innings. “If he were to get regular reps, I think the rest of the world would see that as well.”
Rice is eager for the opportunity. “I love to catch,” he said. “It’s natural to me.”
While manager Aaron Boone hasn’t specified when Rice will make his first start at catcher, the team is clearly preparing him for the role. On Tuesday, Rice caught closer Luke Weaver’s live batting practice as the pitcher recovers from a left hamstring strain. Dressed in pinstriped pants and a T-shirt, Rice called pitches and framed them with the intensity of a real game. “I’m as prepared as you could be,” he said.
Questions linger, however. Rice’s defensive skills as a catcher were doubted in the minors, though his bat carried him to the majors. Last season, he played just one inning at catcher in the big leagues while filling in at first base during Anthony Rizzo’s injury. This year, Rice has caught five times, all in late-game blowouts. His most recent full game behind the plate was September 24 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Swanson acknowledges the challenge of building Rice’s stamina midseason. “I don’t know if we have a schedule for how to handle volume in-season at the MLB level,” he said, noting the team will monitor Rice’s health closely. Rice, undaunted, quipped, “I think I’d survive.”
The Yankees’ confidence in Rice is evident in how they’ve used him. He’s a regular in pregame pitcher meetings, catches bullpens, and hones his blocking and throwing despite primarily playing designated hitter (43 starts) and first base (11 starts). “He’s come a long way,” Swanson said. “He’s a guy we believe in at that position but hasn’t had a lane here given our current personnel.”
Offensively, Rice started the season strong, hitting .260 with nine home runs and a .937 OPS through May 11. Since then, his production has slumped, with a .187 average, three homers, and a .534 OPS in his last 27 games. However, advanced metrics suggest he’s been unlucky. His expected weighted on-base average (.401) far exceeds his actual on-base percentage (.336), a 65-point gap that ranks eighth-widest in the majors, indicating better results may be imminent.
Rice’s emergence as a catching option could also open trade possibilities. Escarra, whom Swanson believes could start for many MLB teams, is a potential trade chip given his framing prowess and solid bat. Moving Escarra could allow the Yankees to address other needs while keeping Rice and Wells in the fold.
The Yankees’ willingness to experiment with Rice reflects their belief in his potential to reshape their lineup. As Swanson put it, “We’ve asked him to do a lot of things, and he’s handled it extremely well.” If Rice defies expectations like Wells and Escarra before him, he could become the secret weapon the Yankees need to unlock their offensive potential.