After an injury to Anthony Rizzo, the Yankees will look towards a different left-handed slugger, one from the Minors, to replace the veteran first baseman. Catcher/first Ben Rice, who’s been on a rampage over the last two years, is coming up to join the Yankees as New York enters a pivotal stretch in the 2024 season.
A Look at Rice
Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice didn’t have a strong collegiate career on paper. The Dartmouth product played just 30 games over three seasons, thanks to the shutdown of the NCAA during the 2020 campaign and the Ivy League’s cancellation of the 2021 season. Rice made a splash in the summer of 2020 in the Futures Collegiate League.
On the same team as Cubs prospect Matt Shaw, Rice belted 11 home runs over 43 games with Worchester in 2020, then notched nine hits in 13 games with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League in 2021. The Yankees wound up selecting Rice with their 12th-round pick in 2021.
Since then, Rice has developed into one of the organization’s most intriguing bats. The 25-year-old put up modest numbers in 2022 before exploding in 2023 when he hit 20 home runs and 39 extra-base hits over 73 games, most of which came in Double-A. Rice continued to hit in 2024 and most recently in Triple-A, the 25-year-old hit .333 (1.059 OPS) with three home runs and six extra-base hits over 11 games.
There’s some explosiveness in Rice’s swing, as he has bat speed, is able to drive the ball with authority, and blasted several bullets off pitches with good velocity in Triple-A. He’s also been adept at working pitchers, as he walked 40 times in 268 plate appearances this season (14.9%) while striking out 56 (20.9%).
Scouting reports indicated concern whether Rice, a left-handed hitter, can deal with pitchers from the same side. But in 2024, he hit roughly the same against lefties (.542 SLG in Double-A, .600 SLG in Triple-A) as compared to right-handed pitchers (.500 SLG in Double-A, .625 SLG in Triple-A), albeit in a smaller sample size.
Defensively, Rice is a catcher by trade but has spent almost half of his games in the field at first (22) than behind the plate (28).
Ben Rice, though, will likely get a crack to be the Yankees‘ regular first baseman while Anthony Rizzo is on the IL. Rizzo, hitting .223/.289/.341 on the year, will miss four to six weeks with an arm fracture.
Analysis
With Jose Trevino and Austin Wells set as the Yankees’ two catchers, it made sense for Rice to get considerable playing time at first in the upper Minors. And, the Yankees could use a jolt of pop at the position.
It’ll be interesting, though, to see how the Yankees delegate playing time for Rice, whether in a platoon role or as a regular. As of now, the Yankees have DJ LeMahieu as the team’s other notable option at first. However, the veteran corner infielder’s hitting .188/.304/.188 on the season over 15 games. And in June, LeMahieu has seven hits over 39 at-bats.
Fantasy Outlook
Rice is an interesting hitter in fantasy, thanks to his power which could play very well at Yankee Stadium. But like with any hitter, be mindful that there could be an adjustment period. Still, he’s worth a stash in AL-only leagues and some mixed leagues, depending on how needy one is for power.