Ben Rice Dubbed Yankees' Top Hitting Prospect For 2024
MLB Pipeline named first baseman/catcher Ben Rice New York's top hitting prospect of the 2024 season. Rice opened the summer by getting his second look at Double-A and performed quite well as he posted a .261/.382/.511 line with 13 home runs across 49 games. The 25-year-old then earned the call to Triple-A and continued to showcase his upside power as he hit another 12 long balls in a smaller 30-game stint and carried an impressive .661 SLG. The Dartmouth product then spent most of the remainder of the season in the major leagues. Rice got off to a hot start, launching seven home runs across his first 35 games. However, he then struggled over his last 15 contests, where he tallied just two total hits. Fantasy managers should closely monitor who the Yankees bring in during free agency, as Rice could compete for the starting first base job during Spring Training.
Oswaldo Cabrera, Ben Rice Considered "Primary Names" For First Base
With New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) and infielder DJ LeMahieu (hip) injured, general manager Brian Cashman considers Oswaldo Cabrera and rookie Ben Rice as the "primary names" at first base heading into the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, which starts on Saturday. Rizzo is dealing with two fractured fingers and is a long shot to be included on the roster for the Division Series, and LeMahieu has been injured and ineffective all year. Rice will most likely be on the strong side of a platoon to begin the postseason against right-handed pitching, while Cabrera could be inserted at first base against lefties as a switch-hitter. It's not an ideal situation for the Bombers at this time of year. The 25-year-old Rice hit just .171/.264/.349 in his first 50 MLB games despite getting off to a hot start early on. He managed seven homers and 23 RBI.
Ben Rice Optioned To Triple-A Scranton On Saturday
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice was optioned to Triple-A Scranton on Saturday, according to the ballclub. The expectation is that this move is in correlation to Anthony Rizzo's expected activation off the injured list on Sunday. Rice got off to a hot start with the Yankees but majorly cooled off in August, hitting for just a .228 OPS in 41 PA during the month. Most of Rice's playing time at first base was taken over by veteran DJ LeMahieu, though LeMahieu's production has been less than ideal (.525 OPS in August). Fantasy managers should feel free to cut Rice loose between the combination of subpar production and Rizzo's eventual return. Those who have Rizzo on their roster should get ready to get him in their starting lineups as soon as tomorrow in his potential return to Wrigley Field against Cubs' scheduled starter Jameson Taillon.
New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice is not in Sunday's lineup as the Yankees close out a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies. Rice will take a seat as southpaw Austin Gomber is set to take the mound for the Rockies. However, Rice has surprisingly started against left-handed pitchers twice this week, so this may be a rest day for the rookie. Since the start of the month, the 25-year-old has been in a 2-for-32 slump with no extra-base hits. As a result, Jose Trevino will get the nod behind the dish, and DJ LeMahieu will start at first base. Both Trevino and LeMahieu are worth a look in DFS as Gomber enters Sunday with a hefty 4.64 ERA.
New York Yankees rookie catcher/first baseman Ben Rice and infielder Oswaldo Cabrera will both start on the bench on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians. DJ LeMahieu is starting at first base and batting eighth, while Oswald Peraza is starting at the hot corner and is hitting ninth against Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd. Rice has stepped up in his first big-league season with seven home runs in 133 at-bats in the absence of Anthony Rizzo (forearm), but the 25-year-old lefty swinger is also hitting only .188 (25-for-133) with 40 strikeouts in 157 plate appearances. He's gone 4-for-28 (.143) with one of his seven home runs against lefties, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he's on the bench on Tuesday. LeMahieu has fallen on hard times in 2024 after starting late due to injury, slashing just .194/.270/.256 with two homers and 24 RBI in 61 games. He's 7-for-56 (.125) with one homer against lefties.
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice is taking a seat on Sunday as the Yankees will face Toronto right-hander Yairel Rodriguez. The 25-year-old rookie typically would take a seat against the southpaw, but today, he will sit in a favorable platoon split. After posting a .494 SLG with six home runs in his first 24 games, Rice has gone deep just once with a .292 SLG in the past 13 games. As a result, DJ LeMahieu will get the start at first base and bat in the nine-hole. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Yankee lineup, as Rice could be slowly dropping down to a bench bat, given his struggles. LeMahieu could be a sneaky play in DFS this afternoon as he recently posted a six RBI game on Wednesday.
Alex Verdugo Hitting Leadoff, Ben Rice Moved To Cleanup
The New York Yankees are shuffling their batting order a bit for Wednesday's contest against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Zach Eflin. Outfielder Alex Verdugo will take over the leadoff spot, while rookie first baseman/catcher Ben Rice drops from leadoff to the cleanup spot behind slugger Aaron Judge. Rice has held his own in his first 19 major-league games for the Bombers, slashing .267/.348/.567 with a .914 OPS, five home runs, three doubles, 14 RBI and nine runs scored in 69 plate appearances. As long as he continues to hit like that, he'll play regularly at first with Anthony Rizzo out with a fractured forearm. Verdugo has hit 10 long balls in 335 at-bats while driving in 45 and scoring 42 runs. The 28-year-old will have more fantasy appeal atop the order, but it's unclear if this is more of a temporary or permanent move.
Ben Rice Sends Three Balls Out Of The Park, Tallies Seven RBI
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice had himself a day at the plate on Saturday launching three homers and recording seven RBI in the Yankees' 14-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. The first homer was a solo shot off of Boston starter Josh Winckowski. The next two were both three run shots off Boston reliever Chase Anderson. Rice has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees as they've looked to replace Giancarlo Stanton's production as Stanton deals with a hamstring issue. Rice's OPS has jumped to .971 in 51 AB. Fantasy managers should look to snag the 25-year-old off the waiver wire if possible and capitalize off his hot streak. He'll look to continue his hot streak on Sunday against Boston starter Kutter Crawford.
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice will bat leadoff for the Yankees in Thursday's game versus the visiting Reds. The 25-year-old has hit up and down the Yankee lineup since his debut, but this will be his first time hitting in the leadoff spot. So far, the left-handed hitter is 10-for-37 (.270) with three doubles but has yet to hit his first major league home run after belting 15 in the minors across two levels prior to his call-up. Rice's DFS stock just went up with the revelation that he'll be atop the lineup.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has reported that the New York Yankees will promote catcher/first baseman Ben Rice to replace first baseman Anthony Rizzo (arm). Rizzo was diagnosed with a fractured right arm following Sunday's game and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks. Per MLB Pipeline, Rice is the Yankees No. 12 prospect. Rice is traditionally a catcher, but can also play first base, which will likely be where he plays for now. The 25-year-old opened the season in Double-A Somerset before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Between both stops, Rice hit a combined .275 with 15 homers, 36 RBI and 9 nine stolen bases. It is unknown how much playing time Rice will get right away, but he is worth a speculative add in deeper leagues with his ability to offer pop and speed in a favorable home ballpark for the left-handed hitter.
