Yankees breakout star predicted to earn first All-Star nod

Ben Rice is well on his way to a breakout season.

The 26-year-old slugger has turned into a star within the New York Yankees lineup thanks to some strength he added during the offseason.

The Yankees have always been high on his upside from the left-handed batter's box, but even Rice's staunchest supporters are likely a bit surprised at his incredible start to the season.

It's difficult to say whether the second-year slugger will maintain this torrid pace, but The Athletic's Jim Bowden predicted Rice will earn his first All-Star nod as the American League's designated hitter.

"Rice looks like he’ll be the Yankees’ first baseman of the future starting in 2026, but in the meantime, he will give Giancarlo Stanton competition at DH once the veteran returns from his multiple elbow injuries. The 26-year-old has been the best DH in the AL so far and is making a strong case that he needs to remain in the lineup," Bowden wrote.

The number of red lines on his Baseball Savant page paints the story of a player who has vastly improved over one offseason. Rice is among the leaders in xwOBA (95th percentile), xSLG (95th percentile), average exit velocity (97th percentile), barrel rate (98th percentile) and hard-hit rate (98th percentile).

His whiff rate (30th percentile) and strikeout rate (29th percentile) leave a bit to be desired, but his walk rate (74th percentile) is well above average.

Though no single player can replace Juan Soto, Rice has given the Yankees the type of left-handed bat they needed since the former's departure. He's routinely hitting at the top of the lineup both in front and behind the early MVP in Aaron Judge.

If Rice continues to swing the bat this well, it would be more of a surprise if he wasn't selected to the All-Star team in July.