Yankees fans are singing the praises of rookie first baseman Ben Rice after his stellar performance in a commanding 14-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Rice made franchise history by homering three times, driving in seven runs, and going 3-for-5 on the day, cementing his name in the record books in the process.
Ben Rice joins Yankees rookie legends
Ben Rice, hitting leadoff for the third consecutive game, became only the second Yankees rookie to ever hit a leadoff home run against the Red Sox, a feat previously accomplished by Chicken Hawks. The Yankees faithful were thrilled to witness this rare accomplishment, as noted by YES Network studio researcher Maxwell Kravatz, who added a touch of humor by linking the names “Chicken” and “Rice.”
The 25-year-old Rice didn’t stop at his leadoff home run. He went on to hit two more, becoming just the third rookie in MLB history to homer three times from the leadoff spot, joining Andrew McCutchen (2009) and Mike Yastrzemski (2019) in an elite club.
Here’s a breakdown of Rice’s trio of home runs: His first homer had an exit velocity of 105.1 mph and traveled 390 feet. The second home run left his bat at 103.7 mph and soared 406 feet. The third shot was the most impressive, with an exit velocity of 110.8 mph and a distance of 406 feet.
In total, Rice’s home runs covered a staggering 1,202 feet. His power display and clutch performance drew immense praise from fans, who took to social media to celebrate the rookie’s breakout game.
Before Saturday’s game, Ben Rice had been hitting .261/.364/.391 (115 OPS+) with one home run and three doubles in his first 16 games. He had shown impressive plate discipline, walking as many times as he struck out (eight) in 55 plate appearances. Rice was called up to the majors after veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo suffered a fractured forearm, landing him on the injured list.
Drafted by the Yankees in the 12th round of the 2021 class out of Dartmouth College, Ben Rice’s rise has been swift. His performance on Saturday is a testament to his talent and hard work, and Yankees fans are excited about his potential.
The victory improved the Yankees’ record to 55-36, marking their first win of the month after dropping their first four games in July. The Yankees and Red Sox will conclude their weekend series on Sunday night.
For Yankees fans, Ben Rice’s historic game is a bright spot in the season and a reason for optimism as the team looks to build momentum. As one fan aptly put it on Twitter, “Ben Rice just cooked the Red Sox. Future looks bright in the Bronx!”
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