On July 6, 2024, Yankees rookie Ben Rice etched his name in the team’s history by becoming the first player to hit three home runs in a single game. His seven RBIs tied a rookie record set by Lou Gehrig in 1925.
As a lifelong Yankees fan from Eastern Massachusetts, he was well-acquainted with the fierce Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Ben Rice had attended games at Fenway Park and was scouted by both teams as a catcher/first baseman during his college years at Dartmouth. His chance to shine came after Anthony Rizzo’s wrist injury, reminiscent of Gehrig’s legendary rise when he replaced Wally Pipp.
Who is Ben Rice?
Ben Rice, born Benjamin Kimball Rice on February 22, 1999, in Cohasset, Massachusetts, just 25 miles from Boston, the home of the Red Sox, against which he etched his name in history with a standout performance. His father, Dan, a former Brown University baseball player, was a significant influence on his baseball journey.
He attended Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, before playing college baseball at Dartmouth College. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Ben Rice’s college career, limiting him to just 30 games as the Ivy League canceled the 2021 season.
During the summer of 2021, Ben Rice played with the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The New York Yankees selected him 363rd overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, and he has since risen to become their 12th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com.
Ben Rice began his professional career with the Florida Complex League Yankees and the Tampa Tarpons. In 2022, he hit nine home runs with a .810 OPS over 68 minor league games. His 2023 season saw him advance through the Tampa Tarpons, Hudson Valley Renegades, and Somerset Patriots, posting an impressive 1.048 OPS across 73 games at three different levels.
Originally drafted as a catcher, Ben Rice’s versatility in playing first base expedited his path to the majors. His limited college experience due to the pandemic likely contributed to his lower draft position, but the Yankees’ decision to select him has proven astute.
His journey from a small town near Boston to making history against the Red Sox highlights his rapid development and the Yankees’ successful investment in his potential.
Ben Rice forays in to MLB
Ben Rice’s meteoric rise through the Yankees’ farm system culminated in his major league debut on June 18, 2024. After a stellar start to the 2024 season, hitting .275 with 15 home runs and a .925 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A, Rice earned his call-up.
His promotion was timely, filling the gap left by Anthony Rizzo’s arm fracture, and injecting much-needed youth into the Yankees’ struggling lineup. In his debut against the Baltimore Orioles, Ben Rice notched his first major league hit with a third-inning single to right field.
On July 4, in a strategic lineup adjustment, the Yankees promoted Rice to the leadoff spot to address Anthony Volpe’s recent slump. Ben Rice seized the opportunity, hitting his first major league home run, a 407-foot solo shot with a 105.6 mph exit velocity.
Ben Rice’s standout moment came on July 6, when he became the youngest Yankee since Bobby Murcer in 1970 to hit three home runs in a single game. At 25, his seven RBIs in that game tied Lou Gehrig’s record for the most by a Yankees rookie in one game.
Rice’s three-homer game powered the Yankees to a commanding 14-4 win over their archrivals.
Ben Rice kicked off his historic day with a leadoff home run in the first inning, a 390-foot shot off Red Sox starter Josh Winckowski, leaving the bat at 105.1 mph. He followed up in the fifth inning with a three-run blast off Chase Anderson, a 406-foot drive with an exit velocity of 103.7 mph, capping a seven-run inning for the Yankees.
In the seventh inning, Ben Rice secured his place in the record books with a third 406-foot homer, again off Anderson, this time with an exit velocity of 110 mph. This brought his RBI total for the game to seven.
His performance made him the seventh Yankee to achieve a three-home run game. The 25-year-old rookie was celebrated by the Yankee Stadium crowd, who called for a curtain call. Initially overwhelmed, Ben Rice eventually emerged to wave his helmet from the dugout steps, acknowledging the fans.
Across the full 2024 season, Rice appeared in 50 games, logging 152 at-bats. He finished with a .171 batting average, seven home runs, 23 RBIs, 20 walks, and 20 runs scored. Though the average dipped, his Statcast metrics revealed promising trends. Rice’s average exit velocity hovered around 90 mph, slightly above league average, and his barrel rate exceeded 14%, indicating consistent hard contact. His expected slugging percentage and xwOBA were also higher than his actual outputs, suggesting that bad luck or inconsistent timing may have masked his raw hitting ability.
Despite the power, Rice also struck out at a high rate and struggled to adjust to major-league pitching over extended stretches. Following a prolonged slump in August, the Yankees optioned him back to Triple-A to continue his development.
Still, Rice’s impact was felt. His historic night against Boston highlighted the upside the Yankees saw in him — a left-handed slugger with power to all fields, capable of game-changing moments. While 2024 ended with modest cumulative numbers, Rice’s blend of power, defensive flexibility at first base and catcher, and left-handed bat gave the Yankees a glimpse of long-term value.
Ben Rice in 2025
Ben Rice entered the 2025 season as a meaningful contributor in the New York Yankees’ lineup after his rookie year in 2024. He earned a spot on the Opening Day roster following a strong spring training and offseason preparation, which included adding muscle and improving his overall offensive approach. Throughout the season Rice saw time primarily as a first baseman, designated hitter and occasional catcher, giving the Yankees flexibility in their lineup.
Rice made an early splash on May 11, 2025, when he hit his first career grand slam against the Oakland Athletics. That big swing marked a key moment in his breakout campaign and helped solidify his role in the middle of the order.
Across 138 games in 2025, Rice delivered a strong offensive season. He posted a .255 batting average, with 119 hits, 26 home runs and 65 RBIs. He also scored 74 runs and drew 50 walks, helping fuel the Yankees’ offense throughout the year. His .836 OPS ranked among the better marks on the team, and he finished with a 131 OPS+, indicating performance well above the league average.
Rice’s impact extended to late‑season heroics. On September 21, 2025, he hit a 10th‑inning grand slam to lift the Yankees to a 7‑1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, finishing 4‑for‑5 with five RBIs in that game. That clutch performance highlighted his growth as a go‑to middle‑of‑the‑order bat.
In the final game of the regular season on September 28, Rice homered twice, including the key solo home run in the eighth inning that gave the Yankees a 3‑2 victory over the Orioles to close out the season. His two homers extended his power output and illustrated his consistency late in the year.
Rice’s offensive performance in 2025 also earned him recognition as a Silver Slugger finalist in the utility category, reflecting his versatility and value at multiple positions.
Statcast analysis showed Rice’s strong contact quality and ability to balance power with contact, with a strikeout rate below the MLB average and high percentile marks in hard‑hit and barrel rates. His combination of power, contact and defensive versatility made 2025 his breakout season with the Yankees and set expectations for further growth in 2026.
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