Ben Rice, a unique first base/ catching Yankees prospect, was called up to the majors following an arm fracture injury to Anthony Rizzo. As Rizzo moved to 60-day IL, Rice was included in the active roster and to the starting lineup on the same day at the Yankee Stadium.
In his first 12 games, Ben Rice showed promising signs on the plate and was consistent in getting extra-base hits. Seeing his progress, the New York Yankees made a bold decision to promote the inexperienced rookie into the leadoff spot. Surprisingly, the rookie didn’t disappoint and reached an important personal milestone.
Ben Rice Goes Full Yard For First Time In MLB!
Entering Thursday, the New York Yankees were struggling to get runs from the leadoff spot, which was occupied by the shortstop Anthony Volpe. Hence, manager Aaron Boone took a bold call and changed the batting order for the series finale against the Reds. Rookie first baseman Ben Rice got his maiden promotion to the leadoff spot, and the move worked wonders. The left-hander slammed a cutter off Frankie Montas deep into the right field to record his career’s first home run in the big leagues. The long ball travelled 407 feet and had an exit velocity of 105.6 mph. Rice reduced the Yanks trial to 2-5 and enjoyed his milestone thoroughly with his teammates back in the dugout.
“Just excitement. Overjoyed,” Ben Rice summed up his emotions in a few words after the game. Needless to say, the home run was not just a personal achievement for Rice but also a crucial moment for the team. The Yankees have been seeking consistency at the top of the order, and Rice’s performance provided a much-needed spark. His ability to set the tone early in the game gave the team an immediate boost. While the rookie’s contributions ended up on a losing note, the club is satisfied with his efforts for the night. As an inexperienced guy, Rice did everything he could to put his team at the forefront. However, due to a lack of support from starting pitcher Marcus Stroman and the rest of the hitting lineup, the Bombers ended up getting swept by the Reds at home and ruined the 4th of July holiday vibe as well.
Anthony Volpe Still In Leadoff Mix, Reveals Yankees Manager
Meanwhile, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone justified his decision to replace Ben Rice as leadoff hitter over Anthony Volpe saying the latter has been struggling to for a couple of weeks and he needed this break to get his mess together. Boone added that Volpe had performed exceptionally well as leadoff during the initial phase of his promotion.
“I don’t rule out him going back there or against lefties being up there,” Boone said. Entering Thursday, Anthony Volpe was 9-for-58 with a .155 average, 14 strikeouts and two walks in his past 13 games. His numbers are overall better compared to his rookie season in 2023. However, as a regular starter at shortstop, the kid needs to step up his game sooner than later.
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