Ben Rice ended the first half of his rookie season with a bang and aims to keep the momentum going in the second half.
In Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles, the Yankees first baseman crushed a three-run homer off Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning, giving them a lead they hoped would secure a series sweep entering the All-Star break.
Despite his heroics, the Orioles rallied with three runs in the home half of the inning for a 6-5 win.
“You know, it was too bad we couldn’t come up with a win, but it was a good feeling,” Rice said before Friday’s game against Tampa.
“Just knowing he’s [Kimbrel] got a good fastball, he’s going to throw it, so just be ready for it. The guy’s been pitching for a long time, but I felt prepared and I was able to capitalize.”
Called up June 18 to fill in for an injured Anthony Rizzo, the Dartmouth product — a 12th-round draft pick in 2021 — has become an asset for the Yankees since his debut.
In just a month, Rice has not only made an impact but also etched his name in the record book as the first rookie in franchise history to hit three homers in a single game, which he did during a 14-4 blowout of the Red Sox.
Rice was moved up to the leadoff spot just 15 games into his career, a slumping Anthony Volpe dropping to seventh in the batting order.
Manager Aaron Boone said he has no regrets about giving the 25-year-old a shot.
“He’s done a great job for us and shown us, so far, to be the hitter that we hoped we were bringing up,” Boone said. “You see a calm, patient, poised at-bat, with some confidence.”
“Obviously, he’s put together a lot of good at-bats for us. He’s taken what he’s done the last couple of years in the minor leagues and it’s translated so far in the big leagues.”
In his first 24 games in pinstripes, Rice had hit six homers and notched 19 RBIs entering Friday.
He was batting .228 with a .315 on-base percentage.
With veteran first baseman Rizzo making “slow progress” from a fractured arm, according to Boone, it appears Rice will continue to see plenty of action.
Despite his background as being a catcher in college and in the minors, the Massachusetts native has adapted well to a position relatively new for him.
“For first base still being, in the grand scheme of things, a new position for him, I think he’s handled himself really well, but there’s a ton of more growth to go on there and hopefully some valuable experience he continues to gain out there every day,” Boone said.
After enjoying some R&R during the All-Star break, Rice said he is hoping the Yankees can “string some wins together and make a good playoff push.”