Yankees' Ben Rice Continues to Solidify Himself as 'One of the Outstanding Hitters in the League'

The 27-year-old slugger has been crushing it against both lefties and righties this season.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:33pm

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring bold strokes of neon orange, yellow, and blue paint to capture the powerful swing and home run of a baseball player, conveying the raw athleticism and offensive prowess of the subject.Yankees star Ben Rice continues to cement his status as one of the most dominant hitters in baseball with his torrid start to the 2026 season.NYC Today

Yankees outfielder Ben Rice has been on a tear to start the 2026 season, hitting .339 with 7 home runs and a 1.224 OPS through the first 42 at-bats of the year. Rice, who the Yankees wanted to give more exposure to lefty pitchers this season, has handled them with ease, hitting .313 with a pair of homers and a 1.041 OPS against southpaws. His manager Aaron Boone and teammates have been raving about Rice's consistent and powerful performance at the plate, with Boone calling him 'one of the outstanding hitters in the league'.

Why it matters

Rice's early-season success is a great sign for the Yankees, who are looking to make a deep playoff run this year. The 27-year-old has established himself as a force in the middle of their lineup, capable of hitting for both power and average against pitchers of any handedness.

The details

In the Yankees' win over the Royals on Sunday, Rice crushed a solo home run off tough lefty pitcher , the third straight game he has gone deep. He finished the day 1-for-2 with the homer, giving him 7 long balls on the season. Overall, Rice is hitting .339 with 13 extra-base hits, 17 RBIs, a .468 on-base percentage, and a .774 slugging percentage.

  • On Sunday, April 18, 2026, Rice hit a solo home run off Royals lefty pitcher.
  • Through the first 42 at-bats of the 2026 season, Rice is hitting .339 with 7 home runs.

The players

Ben Rice

A 27-year-old outfielder for the New York Yankees who has been one of the best hitters in baseball to start the 2026 season.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees, who has praised Rice's consistent and powerful performance at the plate this year.

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What’s next

The Yankees will look to complete a series sweep of the Royals on Sunday, with Rice and the rest of the lineup facing another tough lefty pitcher.

The takeaway

Ben Rice's torrid start to the 2026 season has established him as one of the premier hitters in baseball, capable of dominating both right-handed and left-handed pitching. His continued production will be crucial to the Yankees' hopes of making a deep playoff run this year.