“Dangerous” Ben Rice is helping Yankees to solve their mystery of lead

NEW YORK – At the beginning of spring training, New York Yankees did not know who would be their lead beam. Now they have three – and everyone has crushed.

The designated beekeeper Ben Rice became the last to demonstrate that spot could be a force for the Yankees when 2 out of 4 went with a home race in a 8-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.

“Benny did a good job up there,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Check the strike area, and then it is also so dangerous.”

Entering Saturday, the catcher Austin Wells, the first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Rice had combined first place to hit .340 (17-per-50) with three homers, six RBIs and 1,070 ops through the first 13 games of the team. Goldschmidt had the highest number of repetitions in the position of the joke with eight. Wells had one and received four.

In his fifth time to the leadoff, Rice – hitting in front of the star Aaron Judge – started the game with land. But in the second setting, he walked and in the fifth he crushed a single of 103.2 mph as part of the five yankees explosion. In sixth place, a solo soloist exploded, the lifter of Yankees Lou Trivino at 113.2 mph-the most difficult that he has ever hit a ball in the major. Homer was his quarter of the season. He concluded his night with a 105.3 mph line at the left field in the octave.

“The same thing we saw in the spring,” said Cody Bellinger’s midfielder. “It hasn’t really changed. It just closed me. Closed on her plan. Closed in her approach. Guy that affects the ball extremely hard. It is very fun to look at. It is very impressive.”

113.2 Mph Ben Bomb 💣 pic.twitter.com/uzdlu4kpwv

– New York Yankees (@yankees) April 12, 2025

Last season, Rice appeared at the top of the training 10 times for the Yankees. Training has made its fruits. Through five departures to the leader this year, he hit .333 (6-Per-18) with two homers, one double and a triple. He also walked seven times.

The 26 -year -old, who also takes the first base, said that hitting first is not unusual for him.

“I think the biggest thing is when you move to a certain point in the order, you are probably there for one reason,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is really not to change too much.”

The advanced metrics of Rice tell the story of a blocked power beatter. Its average output speed of 97.5 miles per hour and its percentage of hard blows is in the first 1 percent of the game beats, according to statcast.

His 1,121 Ops is the second best on the Yankees behind the judge at 1,224. Overall, Rice is hitting .310 (15-for-52) with five RBI, 13 Strikeout and nine walks. He reached the base safe in 11 of his 12 games with a flat appearance this season, and his current strip based on eight games corresponds to his longest ever.

Would those numbers indicate a player who could be a little more than a flash in the pan?

“You would think,” said Boone. “Those were many things that were a bit below last year, also. Even when he crossed some struggles, he was not yet rewarded for a little good contact at that moment. I feel like taking him to another level. I feel that he is in a better place and a better way and only a year more mature physically and playing with a lot of confidence.

So far Rice was well aware of his bright numbers. But he said he is not paying attention to them.

“I try not to do it,” he said. “I just have to continue to be in the present.”

His biggest key?

“I think having a condemned approach every time you are up to the plate,” he said. “Just trusting myself, trusting instincts.”

(Photo by Aaron Judge and Ben Rice: Tom Horak / Imagn Images)