Rookie, Ben Rice / Courtesy of Sports Illustrated
The last few weeks—since the Yankees beat the Red Sox 8-1 on June 14—have seen the Yankee franchise hit an incredible low. From opening day through June 13, the team wracked up a powerful 49-22 record. Unfortunately, the season has taken a considerable turn for the worse. In the last 20 games, the Yankees have only won 5.
If any brightness can be found in this disappointing stretch, it’s the newly minted first baseman Ben Rice. Anthony Rizzo, the starting first baseman, suffered an arm fracture on June 16. Doctors projected his return to the field in at least eight weeks. Since Rizzo’s injury, Yankee management called up Rice from Triple A-Scranton to assume Rizzo’s place.
Before his time in Scranton, Rice played Double-A with the Somerset Patriots. Since 2023, he led the Eastern League with a .584 slugging average and 28 home runs in two seasons. On June 18, Rice debuted with the Yankees, batting and starting at first base against the Blue Jays. That day, he recorded his first major league hit: a single into right field to load the bases.
Rice’s success hasn’t stopped there. Amidst a disappointing 5-15 stretch, Rice became the first Yankee rookie to ever hit three home runs in one game. On July 6, Rice homered against the Red Sox in the first, fifth, and seventh innings, racking up 7 RBIs, contributing to a 14-4 win.
Ben Rice and Captain Aaron Judge celebrating after Rice touches home / Courtesy of The Patriot Ledger
Teammate Gerrit Cole remarked, “I know he'll remember it forever." Not only did Rice break a Yankee record, but he was also encouraged by his teammates to take his curtain call after the 7th inning. The crowd, with nothing but brutal losses behind them, erupted in excitement for Rice.
Though he had some trouble finding his way out of the dugout, Rice eventually made it to the on-deck circle. After the game, Rice told reporters, “Thankfully got it in. That was pretty awesome."
Remarkably, Rice was nearly drafted by the Red Sox—the team against which he broke his record. Growing up in Cohasset, Massachusetts, Rice was one of few Yankee fans in a world of Red Sox paraphernalia. But in his college years at Dartmouth, Rice garnered attention from both the Sox and the Yankees. “Those were the teams that I knew liked me the most,” Rice remarked. Thankfully, the Yankees beat out the Red Sox for Rice, selecting him in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
When asked about keeping up his slugging streak from the minors, Rice said, “It’s just trusting my approach.” He elaborated, “The game hasn’t changed. The bases are all in the same spots. That’s allowed me to hit the ground running a little bit here.”
On July 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays, Rice continued his hot streak. He hit a two-run blast in the top of the seventh, making a dismal Yankee outing into a one-run game. Despite Rice’s efforts, the Yankees fell 3-5.
Amidst many veteran players on the Yankees, Rice has had no problem standing out and trusting his instincts. His success has kept Yankee fans excited for his at-bats and hopeful that a comeback can be made. Moreover, his success should prompt Yankee management and fans to wonder how many success stories are left unturned in the Minor Leagues. When games reach such a dismal low, the Yankee organization should consider taking a chance on young, eager prospects.
Pessimism aside, the Yankees still stand in second place in the AL East with a 55-37 record. There’s plenty of time to turn these past few weeks around—and plenty of food for thought inspired by Rice’s success.
Edited by Hadlea Lindstrom
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