Could promising first baseman solve Yankees' infield problems?

Perhaps the New York Yankees don't need to trade for a first baseman before the deadline passes on July 30 at 6 p.m. ET and can roll with Ben Rice.

Since taking over for Anthony Rizzo, who's on the 60-day injured list with a fractured right forearm, Rice has looked like the answer, demonstrating excellent plate discipline and power.

"He's as advertised," an American League scout said of Rice, via the New York Post's Dan Martin. "He has a calm presence at the plate, which you can't teach. He showed it in the minors, but it doesn't always translate here."

Per Martin, Rice has posted the team's lowest strikeout rate (12.5 percent) and its fourth-highest average exit velocity (91.5 mph) behind power hitters Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton. He has also logged a .273 batting average and two RBI in 33 at-bats in 12 games.

Granted, it's a small sample size, and Rice could regress. In that case, the Yankees should consider targeting another first baseman (St. Louis' Paul Goldschmidt or Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?). However, Judge indicated he has plenty of confidence in the 25-year-old.

"At that age, to come in here, the teams he's played are some tough teams in tough environments," Judge told Martin. "I go back to the game [Saturday]. He comes up and gets slotted into that two-hole real quick, comes out of the gate with a nice line drive to left-center. It's just impressive at-bat after impressive at-bat. We saw what he was doing in the minor leagues and it's really translating well up here."