{"id":98018,"date":"2025-03-23T23:41:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T03:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=98018"},"modified":"2025-03-23T23:41:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T03:41:35","slug":"yankees-jonathan-loaisiga-comeback-ben-rice-first-full-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/23\/yankees-jonathan-loaisiga-comeback-ben-rice-first-full-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Yankees Players Facing Big Seasons with Career Implications"},"content":{"rendered":"

The MLB season is days away, and the Yankees are preparing to finalize their Opening Day roster. Two players on the 40-man roster will need to come up with a strong 2025 campaign; Ben Rice<\/a> as he looks to take the next step forward, and Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga<\/a> hoping to stage a comeback from injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Spring training is the ultimate showcase for the majority of non-roster invites, and 40-man rostered invitees. The season will act as a showcase for everyone, with more weight on some than others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rice<\/a> was a 12th-round Yankees draft pick in 2021 who made his debut on June 18th, 2024. Lo\u00e1isiga is a seven-year veteran pitcher with the Yankees. Both of these players are at different stages of their careers, yet they share the same process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both of these players have something to prove to the club and the league. They must showcase their worth to stay relevant in the majors long-term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rice and Lo\u00e1isiga\u2019s Contract Situations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rice is fresh into the major leagues, and hoping to even land a 25-man roster spot for Opening Day. Entering his first full season, his contract is currently just above the major league minimum on salary at<\/span> one year and $740,000. He is pre-arbitration eligible. A solid performance on either the minor league or major league grounds would boost his case during arbitration, and even set him up long-term in contract negotiations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lo\u00e1isiga is currently signed to a one-year deal worth $5 million, with a club option for 2026, also worth $5 million if picked up. Lo\u00e1isiga\u2019s incentive here is to earn that extra year in 2026 and have the Yankees exercise that club option.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga Needs a Strong Comeback\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The right-hander Lo\u00e1isiga was sidelined all season in 2024 after a devastating injury. He suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) which required Tommy John surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Yankees’ plan to have Lo\u00e1isiga better utilize his repertoire in his setup role was halted when he was shut down last year. But the team stayed loyal and brought Lo\u00e1isiga back into pinstripes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His 2025 spring training campaign is based on fundamental work, flat grounds, bullpens<\/a>, and charting work. He has not gotten into games yet. Regardless of where Loaisiga ends up, his output is extremely important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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“It was very important to me to come back. I felt that I owed it to the team and to the fans.”<\/p>\n

– Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga pic.twitter.com\/0gA1y5C2eX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n