Yankees Slugger Ben Rice Continues Scorching Start

Early season stats suggest Rice's breakout is no fluke

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:55am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the various angles and planes of a baseball player's batting stance and swing, rendered in a bold, cubist style using shades of blue, green, and orange.A cubist interpretation of Yankees slugger Ben Rice's powerful swing, capturing the raw energy and precision of his scorching start to the 2026 season.NYC Today

New York Yankees outfielder Ben Rice is off to a blistering start in the 2026 MLB season, batting .324 with 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, and a 1.124 OPS through the first 11 games. Advanced metrics indicate Rice's performance is sustainable, as he ranks in the 100th percentile in expected weighted on-base average and hard-hit rate, as well as the 99th percentile in barrel rate.

Why it matters

Rice's emergence as an elite hitter provides a major boost to the Yankees' lefty-heavy lineup, giving them a dangerous power threat to pair with star outfielder Aaron Judge. If Rice can maintain this level of production, it will make the Yankees' offense one of the most formidable in baseball.

The details

Last season, Rice posted an .836 OPS with 26 home runs, but his underlying numbers suggested he deserved an even better outcome. This year, Rice has taken his game to the next level, with a 1.183 OPS and 4 home runs through his first 11 games. His elite plate discipline, hard-hitting ability, and tendency to barrel up the ball have him ranked among the league leaders in several key offensive categories.

  • Through the first 11 games of the 2026 MLB season
  • Last season, Rice posted an .836 OPS with 26 home runs

The players

Ben Rice

A slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees who is off to a scorching start in the 2026 season.

Aaron Judge

The star outfielder for the New York Yankees, who will benefit from having Rice as a powerful right-handed complement in the middle of the lineup.

Jeffrey Springs

A left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, against whom Rice recorded the Yankees' lone hit in a recent game.

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What they’re saying

“In many ways, Rice's emergence to this kind of level was evident last season. The Yankees' slugger posted an .836 OPS with 26 home runs, but the underlying numbers suggested he deserved an even better outcome -- his .394 expected wOBA was much higher than his actual .358 wOBA.”

— Brent Maguire, MLB.com writer

“Rice is boasting a 100th percentile xwOBA (.473) and hard-hit rate (75.0 percent), while barreling a quarter of his batted balls and showing elite plate discipline (90th percentile chase rate). He's proven to be quite the hitter to pair with Aaron Judge in the middle of the Yankees lineup and looks like one of the best hitters in baseball.”

— Brent Maguire, MLB.com writer

What’s next

The Yankees will likely continue to rely on Rice's hot bat, especially against left-handed pitching, as they look to build on their strong start to the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Ben Rice's scorching start to the 2026 season appears to be no fluke, as advanced metrics suggest he has taken his game to an elite level. If he can maintain this level of production, it will make the Yankees' already potent lineup even more dangerous and give them one of the best hitters in baseball.