It seems the talks of the New York Yankees’ demise were slightly exaggerated. However, unlike previous expectations, it wasn’t Aaron Judge or Juan Soto who brought them back to life. It was their 25-year-old rookie Ben Rice—the three-homer king—that gave the Bronx Bombers a chance to smile. However, the journey of Rice isn’t as easy as he makes the home runs look. This is the story of an undesirable player turning into an undeniable talent.

As the Bronx Bombers defeated the Boston Red Sox 14-4, the fans could only remember one name: Ben Rice. And it was for a good reason—his three home runs and 7 RBI were the turning point that the Yankees needed. More importantly, he became the first Yankees rookie to ever have a 3-homer game. That is quite unexpected and surprising from a player who wasn’t even the first-round pick. In fact, he wasn’t even a 10th-round pick.!

Ben Rice’s delayed start and minor-league struggles 

Unlike other prospects, Ben Rice’s start wasn’t on time. Due to his Ivy League education, the star had to delay some of his baseball activities. However, the real blow came when Covid struck the world. Suddenly, the Ivy League suspended the 2021 season and Rice was left with just 30 games to show in his resume. That resulted in a big blow—he became an undesirable draft pick. On top of that, he was older than everybody else on the pool.

However, the New York Yankees took a chance on him. The Yankees picked Ben Rice in the 12th round as the no. 363 overall pick. Now, that isn’t an impressive number, and most such players are expected to get lost in the shuffle, but Rice was different. So he started proving himself in the minor leagues. Interestingly, before becoming a first baseman, Rice was a catcher but his penchant for hitting was always present within him.

In 2022, Ben Rice had a .810 OPS and nine home runs in 68 minor league games. Then came 2023, where he had an even better 1.048 OPS. Before making his Yankees debut, Rice had hit 15 home runs in just 11 Triple-A games in 2024. That left the Bronx Bombers with no choice but to call him up. And the rest, as they say, is history.

How the rookie excels in New York Yankees’ high-pressure environment

During an interview with New York Post’s Steve Serby, Ben Rice explained how there’s a “little bit more weight that you carry on your shoulders as a New York Yankees.” However, per Rice, none of that weight affects him because he has earned everything. “I’ve worked my way out of some more, like, under-the-radar situations,” Rice said.

From going to a lower-profile school to being able to dig himself “out of some tough situations with COVID,” Rice has done it all. That’s perhaps one of the reasons why the rookie’s smile has always been so infectious. He knows just how unlikely it is for a 363rd pick to get a chance to step into a major league ballpark. And to do that, wearing the legendary pinstripes is just a chef’s kiss. 

However, this story is far from here. As of now, the leadoff spot seems to be firmly in Ben Rice’s hands. And with Anthony Rizzo still injured, the first base too seems to be Rice’s to have. Just how high can this young man fly? If his 100 mph+ hits give any hints, Rice’s flight has the potential to be astronomically high.