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The New York Yankees have long been searching for a homegrown, left-handed power bat to anchor the middle of their lineup. In Ben Rice, they may have found their answer. With the 2025 season still unfolding, Rice is turning heads, not just adjusting to the big leagues but excelling in the Bronx. His elite production, backed by stellar metrics and an undeniable presence, has fans and analysts buzzing: Rice is a full-on superstar in the making. As one bold observer said, “I’ll eat my words if I’m wrong, but he has arrived.” Let’s dive into why Rice is the real deal for the Yankees—and how he stacks up against a certain Philadelphia Phillies slugger, Bryce Harper.
Ben Rice on the Rise in New York
Yankees Late Round Steal
Rice, selected by the Yankees in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, is a testament to the organization’s scouting and player development prowess. Hailing from Dartmouth College, where his college career was limited to just 30 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rice was a diamond in the rough. The Yankees’ scouting department saw potential in his left-handed swing and athleticism, and their player development system polished him into a force. After tearing through the minors—hitting .324/.434/.615 with 20 home runs across three levels in 2023—Rice debuted in 2024, flashing power with a historic three-homer game against the Boston Red Sox.
Ben Rice (9)
Grand SlamOpponent: Oakland Athletics
Pitcher: Shane Spence
Date: 05/11/2025 pic.twitter.com/FNcFUfY0Sb— Yankees Home Runs (@NYY_HR) May 11, 2025
In 2025, he’s cementing his place as a cornerstone for the Yankees.
Rice Cakes in the Numbers
The numbers tell a compelling story. In 123 at-bats this season, Rice boasts a .260 batting average, nine home runs, 20 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .937 OPS, and a 165 wRC+. These metrics scream elite production, placing him among the game’s top hitters. His bat speed, averaging 74.6 mph in 2025 (up from 71.4 mph in 2024), ranks 30th among qualified hitters, just ahead of Harper, a poster child for selective aggression.
Rice’s 25 percent barrel rate and 62.5 percent hard-hit rate are in the 99th percentile, while his 95 mph average exit velocity sits in the 96th percentile. The bat is real, and as Yankees manager Aaron Boone succinctly put it, “Rice rakes.” For the Yankees, this kind of homegrown talent can redefine a lineup.
Ben Rice Showing Up Bryce Harper
Comparing Ben Rice to Bryce Harper, a two-time MVP and one of baseball’s premier power hitters, might seem ambitious, but the parallels are striking. Like Harper, Rice combines raw power with a keen eye at the plate. In his age-26 season (2019), Harper hit .260 with 35 home runs, a .882 OPS, and a 126 wRC+ over 682 plate appearances.
Rice, also 26, is on pace for similar per-at-bat production, albeit in a smaller sample. Both players share a knack for squaring up pitches—Rice’s 2025 blast rate (fast swings with sweet-spot contact) is top-10 among hitters, mirroring Harper’s ability to punish mistakes. While Harper’s career longevity and accolades set a high bar, Rice’s early metrics suggest he could follow a similar trajectory as a middle-of-the-order force for the Yankees.
Beyond the numbers, Rice’s story and vibes resonate deeply. A Massachusetts native who grew up rooting for the Yankees amidst a sea of Red Sox fans, Rice idolized Derek Jeter and now wears pinstripes with pride. From a lightly scouted Ivy Leaguer to a breakout star, his journey embodies the underdog spirit. Rice’s fluency in Spanish and psychology degree adds layers to his charisma off the field, and he is an asset in the locker room. For Yankees fans, he’s not just a player; he’s a narrative of perseverance and potential realized.
The 2025 season is far from over, but Rice is proving he’s more than a flash in the pan. His elite production, validated by top-tier metrics, signals the arrival of a cornerstone for the Yankees. While he’s not yet Bryce Harper, the similarities in their profiles suggest Rice could become a star in his own right. The bat is real, the story is compelling, and the vibes are electric. Rice is just starting, and the New York Yankees and their fans are reaping the rewards.
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TODAY'S BEST
Yankees' trade-deadline whirlwind may not be enough to win AL East
It was a busy trade deadline for the New York Yankees, who added Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Austin Slater, José Caballero and Jake Bird (and Wilberson De Pena in rookie ball, if we want to get technical). Having done his part, Brian Cashman, the weary Yankee general manager, can lay his phone down and take a breather without negotiating something. The Yankees are, without a doubt, a much better team. But this raises an overlooked question: are they good enough? The Yankees lag the Blue Jays in the AL East by 3.5 games entering Friday. New York doesn’t necessarily need to win the division, as they seem to be bound for the postseason either way. However, they will likely need to face the Jays once they get there, and their 3-7 record against Toronto this season doesn’t bode well for them. How do the Yankees stack up after the deadline? McMahon has been a marvelous addition since he arrived in the Bronx. Rosario, who will presumably be used in place of McMahon when facing southpaws, can be an impact bat on those occasions. Both Doval and Bednar will be very helpful in lowering the temperature in the Yankees’ bullpen dumpster fire, which owns a 4.19 cumulative ERA entering Friday, before any of the recently traded arms could make their pinstripe debuts. But beyond these four (two of which will be platooned), the others are only marginal improvements. *Caballero’s 34 stolen bases are the most in the game this year. His 44 last year were the most in the AL. While no one can deny the Yankees’ roster has gotten stronger, Cashman failed to address the rotation, which has been plagued by inconsistent performances and pummeled by injuries. The team has also released Marcus Stroman in hopes that Luis Gil (will return on Sunday) and Ryan Yarbrough (expected to be back in August) can be as productive as they had been before their respective injuries (for Gil, that’s 2024). Meanwhile, in Toronto, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins wasn’t idle when it came to bolstering the rotation. Atkins was able to land former AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber from the Guardians, among other moves. Bieber is yet to pitch this year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he is well on his way back, having made four rehab starts. If he can be a productive arm this year, this could easily add to the Yankees’ misery. The fact remains, if the Yankees are going to topple the Blue Jays (in the division, postseason or both), they will need a much higher level of reliability from their questionable rotation.
Troubling report surfaces on Patriots' first-round rookie
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye might not feel comfortable with his blindside protection early in the upcoming season. Following troubles at left tackle in 2024, the Patriots invested in the position by drafting LSU standout Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick in April's draft. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, Campbell has been trending down at training camp this summer. "All eyes are on him every practice, which is a tough spot for a rookie," Graff wrote of Campbell. "So far, he’s been about what you’d expect from a rookie. He has some strong moments, particularly in the running game. But there have been struggles in the passing game. He’s been beaten for a sack in just about every practice, which isn’t great considering he’s usually on the field each practice for only 15 or so passing plays in full-team drills. "He tends to get beaten to the inside after oversetting, and it probably doesn’t help that the Pats don’t yet know who their left guard is next to him. Still, extrapolate those numbers, and that’s allowing two sacks each NFL game if you throw the ball 30 times. Not great." Graff believes the future is "bright" for Campbell, but doesn't think he will be a top-20 left tackle in 2025. NFL scouts had questions before the draft about Campbell's 32⅝ inch (or 33 inches, depending on whether one believes the league or LSU) arm length. Some suggested he'd be better suited to play guard in the league than left tackle. If Campbell continues to give up sacks, the Patriots might consider moving the 21-year-old to the interior part of the offensive line. Per OurLads, Campbell is projected to win the left tackle starting job for Week 1. If Campbell doesn't develop quickly in the preseason, Maye's progress as a thrower in the pocket could take a hit in the upcoming season.
Lakers Interested in $60 Million All-Star Big Man, Under One Condition
The Los Angeles Lakers were hunting for a center for most of the offseason after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They knew they needed an upgrade from Jaxon Hayes. While the Lakers didn't get any of the top centers on the free agent market, they were able to sign Deandre Ayton after he was bought out. Another center would be a better fit, but he wasn't available in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Lakers dating all the way back to the trade deadline, although Vucevic was not moved. More news: Lakers Make Massive Announcement Ahead of 2025-26 Season The Lakers would only be interested in Vucevic if he were to be bought out, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Los Angeles will not be pursuing a trade to acquire Vucevic. After bringing in Ayton on a two-year deal, it wouldn't make sense to trade assets in order to bring in Vucevic. They want to see what Ayton can do before bailing on him already. The Lakers needed a starting center, as that was their biggest need heading into the offseason. While Ayton isn't the greatest option, he is someone who can help the team with what he brings to the table. The Bulls seem to think that Vucevic can still help them win games and contend for the playoffs in what will be a very weak Eastern Conference next season. If things don't go well by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Bulls might decide to buy him out if they aren't in the playoff picture. That would be the only scenario in which the Lakers bring him in. More news: Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension The Lakers are always looking to improve the roster whenever possible. They aren't worried about hurting feelings, so they wouldn't hesitate to offer Vucevic a contract if they thought he was better than Ayton. With LeBron James entering the end of his career, the Lakers are going to try to win the title as quickly as possible while he is still on the roster. Last season with the Bulls, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Castoff All-Star Linked to East Team in Free Agency For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill stirs up drama, calls for teammate to be benched in certain situations
Tyreek Hill was just trying to be a good teammate, but his Miami Dolphins colleague didn't care for the message. On Friday, Hill gave a meaty performance during his media availability, broaching subjects from his mastery of the offense this year to saying he agreed with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that he needed to be a better leader on the Dolphins for the upcoming season. Then he took a shot at running back De'Von Achane. He suggested the Dolphins keep the 5-foot-9, 191-pound back off the field in third-and-short situations. "Take (Achane) out on 3rd-down," Hills told reporters, via the Dolphins. "That's my honest opinion. If it's third-and-short, he's not a power back. I've been telling him that in the locker room... I love De'Von, but If I'm being honest, that's why you got Jaylen Wright, that's why you got Ollie Gordon." Achane responded to Hill giving his opinion to the media. "That's how you feel," Achane wrote with a laughing emoji. Achane rushed for 907 yards and six touchdowns on 203 carries last season. That's an average of 4.5 yards per rush. The Dolphins' backfield as a whole struggled in the run game last season, averaging a pedestrian 105.6 rushing yards per contest. Achane certainly didn't thrive on third-and-short, but Hill's comments feel unnecessary. Last season, Hill caught 81 passes for 959 yards and six touchdowns — his worst production since 2019, when he missed four games due to injury. Is Hill ready to admit that he's washed? Miami's offense was bad, and it didn't help that Tagovailoa missed time due to a concussion. Defenses took advantage of the Dolphins' limited and discombobulated offense last season. Miami's training-camp news conferences are becoming a concern. Hopefully for the team, Achane won't take the slight from Hill too personally.
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