Ben Rice’s Home Run Chase
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ben Rice hit his 10th home run of the season on April 27, which tied him with Aaron Judge for the lead on the team. When asked about this, he chuckled and said, “I don’t know how long this will last, but I’m enjoying being this close right now.” It seems—at least for now—he’s holding strong.
Fast forward a little over a month, and the two players are tied again, each with 17 home runs following a 6-4 loss to the Athletics on Saturday. Rice’s performance doesn’t seem to be faltering.
Over the first two months of the season, Rice has shown he is among the best hitters in the league. In Friday’s game against the Athletics, he went 5-for-4, hitting two doubles and a home run. He followed this up with a 1-for-3 showing in Saturday’s loss, which included an RBI and a .303 OPS. His numbers put him just behind Astros player Yordan Alvarez for the major league lead.
“That’s Benny Burrells, and he’s going to keep doing it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated. He noted Rice’s strong performances in the recent Kansas City series and beyond.
Despite a bit of a slump lately—11 hits in 66 at-bats with a batting average of .167 after recovering from a bruised left hand—Rice still maintained quality at-bats. Remarkably, he had a resurgence before Saturday, going 9-for-14 in his last three games.
Judge also praised Rice, noting, “Every day since he’s been in the league, he just wants to learn and get better.” He mentioned seeing Rice putting in extra work during practice. Over time, such dedication tends to yield positive results.
After hitting his latest home run, Rice became the fifth fastest player in Yankees history to reach 50 home runs within 240 games. The timeline comparison with legends like Gary Sanchez, Joe DiMaggio, and Judge paints a picture of how varying paths can unfold in a player’s career.
“He’s showing the world that he’s a great hitter,” Boone explained. “Since his arrival in ’24, he has steadily improved. His experience is aligning with his hitting skills, making him a formidable presence at the plate.”
Goldschmidt, who has been a vital mentor to Rice, highlighted his impressive transition to first base after years of playing catcher. “I don’t know if there’s much room for improvement,” Goldschmidt speculated after Rice’s successful first full season in the majors, which included 26 home runs and a solid OPS.
Goldschmidt admiringly described Rice as a smart player with excellent swing mechanics. He expressed confidence in Rice’s ability to adapt and enhance his game, emphasizing that there’s more to success than just numbers—it’s also about work ethic and determination.
