The New York Yankees just split a four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays, winning the finale 12-4. Rookie first baseman Ben Rice went deep twice in that game. He followed it up with another home run Friday night in the first inning against the Washington Nationals. Rice is headed to the All-Star Game on Tuesday with 29 homers already on the season. That’s not bad for a 25-year-old who wasn’t supposed to be carrying a lineup this loaded.
Except here’s the thing. The lineup isn’t that loaded right now. Aaron Judge has been out since early June with a rib stress fracture. Giancarlo Stanton is still dealing with a right calf strain. Two of the most feared hitters in baseball are sitting, and the Yankees are in the middle of a rough stretch that started in late June and has tested how deep this roster really is. They’re trying to stay alive in the AL East race, and right now Ben Rice is the guy keeping them from sinking.
Who else is producing?
Judge still leads the team in home runs with 17, which tells you how much damage he’s done when healthy. Paul Goldschmidt is third with 14. Jazz Chisholm has 12. Cody Bellinger has 11. Jose Caballero has 10. That’s a decent amount of pop, but none of those guys have been as consistent as Rice since Judge went down. He’s become the primary source of power, and the Yankees have leaned on him hard.
Early in the season, Rice was a nice story. A young player getting some reps at first base, filling in capably. But now he’s practically the anchor. The team originally hoped Judge would return shortly after the All-Star break. That timeline has shifted. According to the latest updates, early August is looking more realistic. That means Rice will need to keep producing for another few weeks at least.
Pressure or opportunity?
It’s easy to look at this and say the Yankees are in trouble. Their two biggest bats are hurt, and a rookie is carrying the offense. But the flip side is that Rice is getting a chance most guys his age don’t get. He’s playing every day in the middle of a pennant race, getting attention on a national stage at the All-Star Game. That experience could be huge for him down the road.
New York’s playoff hopes aren’t dead yet, but they’re hanging on. The rotation has been solid enough. The bullpen is decent. If Rice keeps hitting like this and Judge comes back relatively healthy in August, the Yankees could still make some noise. But if Rice cools off before Judge returns, this team could be in real trouble.
For now, Rice is the story. And he’s making it interesting.
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