NEW YORK – Ben Rice delivered the answer the Yankees needed on Wednesday night. The second-year player caught ace Max Fried for the first time and added a key hit in New York’s 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The win pulled the Yankees even with Toronto at the top of the AL East.
Rice’s work behind the plate with Fried showed why the Yankees are determined to keep his bat in the lineup for October. At 26, the versatile utility player has become too valuable to be left sitting out.
The battery clicks in crucial test
AP Photo/Heather Khalifa
Manager Aaron Boone had been considering this pairing for weeks. The White Sox used a bullpen game, and Boone saw it as the right chance to see Ben Rice and Fried together.
“If we do make a deep run in the postseason, who knows what comes up,” Boone said before first pitch. “Getting them together at least once, I think there’s some benefit in that.”
Max Fried responded with a dominant outing. He worked seven innings, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out seven. The left-hander became the majors’ first 19-game winner and stretched his record to 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA across his last seven starts.
“The battery seemed to be pretty strong tonight,” Boone said afterward.
For Rice, the moment had been circled since he faced Fried as an opponent last June. The “Fried Rice” connection gave both players reason to laugh.
“It’s such a layup of a joke I had to say it right right when we got in there,” Rice said of their first meeting.
Offensive production seals the deal
Rice wasn’t just solid defensively. He also laced a triple that highlighted his hot September. For the season, the left-handed hitter owns a .256 batting average with 24 homers and 62 RBIs.
Those totals place him squarely in the middle of New York’s order. His left-handed power is perfectly suited for Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.
“I think we’re seeing the emergence of a true middle-of-the-order bat with power,” Boone said earlier this month. “He’s proving himself as a really formidable hitter in this league.”
Rice’s consistency has helped balance the offense behind Aaron Judge and other top hitters. His production has provided depth that will matter when the postseason begins.
Versatility creates playoff value
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Rice’s latest test brought more clarity to the Yankees’ playoff plans. He has made 48 starts as designated hitter, 44 at first base and 25 behind the plate this year.
That level of flexibility is rare in October, when every roster spot counts. Clubs often must choose between defensive specialists and hitters. Rice gives Boone the best of both.
His receiving skills have shown steady progress, and his comfort catching Fried was another step forward.
“It was fun. I wish we got to do it sooner,” Rice said of working with Fried. “I enjoyed it, enjoyed getting to work with him, kind of getting used to the way his pitches move and his tendencies.”
The playoff equation becomes clearer
“They’ll also have to decide the best ways to get Rice in the lineup every game,” wrote Brendon Kuty two days ago. “He hasn’t caught a single Max Fried start this year, and Fried will be starting Game 1. If the Yankees were to face the Boston Red Sox in the wild card, they might need to keep Rice on the bench until the Sox bring in a righty to relieve ace Garrett Crochet.”
Wednesday night may have offered a glimpse of that solution for October. Fried is in line to start Game 1 of the postseason. Having a capable catcher who has already worked with him could be crucial.
Rice’s growth has solved one of New York’s biggest roster questions. His ability to hit for power from the left side and to handle multiple positions makes him indispensable. Against right-handers, his bat forces managers to account for another threat.
The timing couldn’t be better. With the postseason near, the Yankees now know they can use Rice without sacrificing depth elsewhere.
“It was great, great to finally work together,” Fried said about the pairing. “He’s been working really hard. Especially the transition of playing a lot of first base and then catching sporadically and then getting more starts.”
Building chemistry for October
The Yankees will try to build on the success of this experiment in the final days of the regular season. Every inning spent together helps strengthen playoff chemistry.
Rice’s performance left little doubt he belongs on the postseason roster. His bat already warranted inclusion, but his ability to catch high-pressure innings sealed it.
The win not only pushed the Yankees into a first-place tie but also showed the depth they will lean on in October. Players like Rice often become October X-factors, where every at-bat and every pitch matters.
Boone’s decision to finally pair Rice with Fried proved well-timed. The manager has been working to maximize roster flexibility, and Wednesday offered proof that Rice can handle the challenge.
The Yankees’ playoff outlook looks stronger with Rice in the mix. His versatility, left-handed power, and ability to work with the team’s ace make him the kind of player championship rosters need.
