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New York Yankees star Ben Rice is turning up the heat at the plate. The Yankees slugger enjoyed a productive 2025 season and he might be on his way to doing even better in 2026.
Last season, the catcher/first baseman broke out with 26 home runs, a .255 batting average, and an .836 OPS. In 2026, he has taken his hitting to another level, slashing .338/.476/.800 batting line with 1.276 OPS. Rice has hit eight home runs and driven in 18 runs in 21 games this season.
It's safe to say the Yankees slugger is heading towards a huge year. On Monday, MLB Network analyst Harold Reynold broke down Rice's hitting mechanics to make his point on why he believes that he's going to hit 30 home runs this season.
"I like the adjustments I've watched him make," Reynolds said. "Look how his foot, when he loads, points towards shortstop. But his hands are so good that he'll pull the ball and be able to get on the inside pitch. I have not seen a young hitter in this generation where everybody says hit the ball to the opposite field, hit it in the opposite gap, pull the ball as much as this guy.
"He tailored his swing, or they scouted it. That's going to play in New York and he ain't changing it. It's a ball away, it's a ball in, it doesn't matter. He's hooking it into those seats. And that's why I think he's going to hit 30 home runs."
Reynolds also asks Yankees manager Aaron Boone to have him go against lefties as well. In the above video, Reynolds backed up his suggestion by showing a video from the minors where Rice smoked a southpaw for a homer.
More: Yankees fans should believe Ben Rice's breakout is for real this season
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The last time a Yankees first baseman was hitting so well was back in 1995 when Don Mattingly was still playing at Yankee Stadium. After three decades, a young player has finally arrived to make the position his own.
While Ben Rice is yet to match Lou Gehrig’s legendary 1927 season (.373 with a 205 wRC+ and a 12.4 fWAR), the early start has given way to comparisons.
Only the coming days could tell whether Rice's hot start is here to stay or if he will get humbled soon.
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