It is unclear if Stanton will become the full-time DH when he returns. Rice, a first baseman and catcher by trade, recently took reps at third base; the Yankees lost third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera to a severe ankle injury last week.

The team lost slugger Giancarlo Stanton to injuries in both elbows before opening day and he’s been working toward his debut for the season. Though there’s no definitive timetable for his return, the team has announced a promising update on his completion of one phase of the rehabilitation.

Giancarlo Stanton's status explained as the New York Yankees push forward in the AL East. Here’s the latest update on his recovery and what it means for the team’s momentum.