The Yankees might’ve stumbled into something special with Ben Rice — and not in a quiet, “oh, he’s solid” kind of way. No, Rice is making noise. Think thunder off the bat, because that’s what it sounds like when he connects.
Through just 11 games, the 25-year-old lefty is slashing .306/.419/.667 with three home runs, four RBIs, and a jaw-dropping 209 wRC+. It’s early, sure, but every at-bat feels like another exclamation point.
He’s walking at a strong 16.3% clip, striking out 25.6% of the time, and punishing every mistake thrown his way. And here’s the kicker — he’s hitting the ball harder than anyone in baseball. Literally.
Baseball’s Newest Sledgehammer
Rice is posting a 72.7% hard-hit rate, the highest in the league. That’s not a typo — nearly three-quarters of the balls he puts in play are considered hard-hit. For context, that’s like saying nearly every time he swings, it’s a rocket.
He also ranks in the top 2% of all hitters in average exit velocity, and it shows. His swings don’t just sting pitchers — they leave a mark on the Statcast page.
This isn’t just natural talent blooming. Rice added serious muscle this past offseason, and the transformation is on full display. You can see it in his frame, sure, but more importantly, you can feel it in the way the ball jumps off his bat. It’s like he went from swinging a regular bat to a sledgehammer overnight.
Making Boone’s Job a Lot Harder
When Giancarlo Stanton returns, the Yankees will have some decisions to make. Normally, you’d slot Stanton back into the DH spot and let him roll, but Rice is complicating that narrative — in the best possible way.
He’s not just hitting well — he’s been elite in every sense of the word. If Aaron Boone is serious about putting his best lineup on the field, Rice has to stay in it. There’s plenty of logic to continue leading him off, something that would’ve sounded wild a month ago but now carries real weight.
Rice brings a blend of plate discipline, power, and momentum that’s tough to bench. Taking him out of the lineup when Stanton returns, assuming Rice is still dominating, would be like turning off a heater in the middle of a snowstorm — cold, risky, and probably the wrong move.
The Yankees Found a Weapon
Every season, a team needs someone to step up unexpectedly. Ben Rice has gone beyond that — he’s become a must-watch weapon at the top of a lineup that lost serious thump in the offseason.
His advanced metrics tell a story of a hitter who isn’t just hot — he’s evolving. The added strength, the sharper eye at the plate, the ability to do damage to all fields — it’s all real.
And for now, the Yankees would be crazy to take that out of the lineup.