The New York Yankees organization has once again identified promising talent within its ranks, with MLB Pipeline, the esteemed authority on prospect rankings and analysis, naming Somerset Patriots C/1B Ben Rice and RHP Drew Thorpe as the 2023 Hitting and Pitching Prospects of the Year for the New York Yankees.
Ben Rice
The journey that led to Ben Rice being named the Yankees’ Hitting Prospect of the Year is a testament to his remarkable skill and dedication. Following his promotion to Double-A Somerset on July 18th, Rice left an indelible mark on the Eastern League, emerging as a standout hitter. Rice led the league in numerous offensive categories, including home runs (16), runs batted in (48), slugging percentage (.651), on-base plus slugging (OPS) at a stellar 1.054, extra-base hits (30), total bases (127), and runs scored (40). Additionally, he claimed the third spot in the league with a batting average of .328.
Rice’s outstanding performance extended to advanced statistics, with his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) rating of 183, ranking him at the top among all players with at least 300 plate appearances. Over the course of 73 combined games between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, he maintained an impressive batting line of .324/.434/.615.
Upon his arrival at Double-A Somerset, Rice made an immediate impact, recording four consecutive multi-hit games. During this stretch, he went 10-for-20 with 10 runs batted in, six runs, and three home runs. The highlight of his early days with Somerset came on July 22nd when he collected a career-high four hits in a game that featured his first two-home run performance, along with four RBIs.
Rice’s outstanding play was further recognized when he was named Player of the Week for the week of August 8th to 13th. During this period, he went 12-for-23 with nine RBIs, seven runs, two home runs, four doubles, two walks, and two stolen bases.
Rice’s journey to success was not without its challenges. He began the season with 15 games for High-A Hudson Valley before a brief stint on the injured list due to a lower back injury. Following his recovery, he embarked on a 10-game rehab assignment in Single-A Tampa, where he continued to impress with an impressive .341/.559/.523 batting line. During this time, he hit two home runs, drove in 10 runs, scored 15 runs, drew 18 walks, and was hit by a pitch 10 times in 25 combined games.
Drew Thorpe
Drew Thorpe‘s remarkable performance on the pitcher’s mound earned him the prestigious title of the Yankees’ Pitching Prospect of the Year. His outstanding accomplishments were officially acknowledged during the inaugural MiLB Awards Show on October 2nd. In the 2023 season, Thorpe displayed unwavering consistency, concluding with a remarkable record of 14-2 and an impressive 2.52 ERA. Over the course of 139.1 innings pitched in 23 starts, he amassed an astonishing 182 strikeouts.
Thorpe’s impact extended beyond mere wins, as he led all of MiLB in strikeouts and ranked among the league leaders in various categories, including wins (tied for 2nd), WHIP (2nd), ERA (4th), and batting average against (6th).
The 23-year-old right-hander commenced his professional journey with High-A Hudson Valley and continued to impress upon his promotion to Double-A Somerset. During his tenure with the Renegades, he recorded a remarkable 10-2 record, a 2.81 ERA, 138 strikeouts, a 1.07 WHIP, and held opposing batters to a .215 batting average over 109 innings in 18 starts.
Thorpe’s excellence continued after his promotion to the Patriots, where he maintained an undefeated 4-0 record. Notably, he posted an extraordinary 1.48 ERA, struck out 44 batters, held a minuscule 0.66 WHIP, and allowed batters to hit just .144 over 30.1 innings pitched in five starts. His debut in Double-A on August 11th was nothing short of remarkable, as he struck out nine batters over eight scoreless innings, conceding just two hits.
Throughout the season, Thorpe showcased his ability to consistently strike out batters, recording double-digit strikeouts in five games, including a career-high 13 strikeouts on July 22nd against Brooklyn. Impressively, he recorded seven or more strikeouts in 17 of his 23 starts, underscoring his exceptional talent on the mound.
Thorpe’s extraordinary season earned him several accolades, including the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year and All-Star honors. He also received recognition as the league’s Pitcher of the Month for June and was twice named Pitcher of the Week, once in late June and once in late July. His exceptional impact continued with Somerset, where he was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for August and received the Pitcher of the Week award in mid-August.
As the New York Yankees’ Hitting and Pitching Prospects of the Year, they have undoubtedly established themselves as the promising stars of the pinstriped franchise’s future. Yankees fans can eagerly anticipate the future success of these two young talents as they prepare to make their mark on the grand stage of major league baseball.
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