Injury scare for Yankees as breakout DH Ben Rice exits after elbow HBP

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Ben Rice, one of the Yankees’ most promising early-season standouts, left Saturday’s game against the Rays after taking a pitch to his left elbow.

Ben Rice exits Yankees game with elbow injury after being hit by pitch

The designated hitter was struck by an 88.2 mph slider from Rays reliever Manuel Rodriguez in the fourth inning. It was the second time Ben Rice was hit in the game — he had already taken a pitch off his foot in the first inning.

Ben Rice stayed in the game at first, advancing to third on Aaron Judge’s two-run single and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Austin Wells. But when his spot came back up in the sixth, Pablo Reyes pinch-hit for him. Shortly after, the Yankees announced that Rice had a left elbow contusion and was heading to St. Joseph’s Hospital for X-rays and a CT scan.

The injury comes at a frustrating time, especially considering Ben Rice’s impact in the early part of the season. With Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, the 26-year-old Rice has stepped up in a big way. Through 18 games, he was batting .297 with five home runs, nine RBI and a 1.001 OPS. His hard-hit rate and exit velocities — often topping 100 mph — have been among the best on the team.

He also made headlines earlier in the week. On Thursday, Ben Rice recorded his first career four-hit game in the series opener against Tampa Bay. Then on Friday, he came inches away from a two-run homer, only to be robbed by a leaping catch at the wall by Rays outfielder José Caballero.

Ben Rice batted leadoff again on Saturday. After being hit by a pitch to open the first inning, he scored the game’s first run. He struck out in the second inning and was hit again in the fourth, this time in the elbow — which eventually forced him out of the game.

The Yankees haven’t said how long he might be out. That will likely depend on the results of his scans. But if Rice ends up missing time, it’ll be another blow to a lineup that’s already without Stanton.

Still, Ben Rice’s breakout has been a bright spot for the Yankees. A former 12th-round pick out of Dartmouth, he’s earned praise from manager Aaron Boone and teammates for his approach, his calm under pressure, and his power at the plate. He’s become a key piece of the lineup — and someone the Yankees can’t afford to lose right now.

As of Saturday evening, no further update had been given on the results of his imaging or his availability for Sunday’s series finale against Tampa Bay.

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