Ben Rice -- Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis sources for Ben Rice of the New York Yankees
Ben Rice solidified his role as the Yankees' starting first baseman following the 2025 season, eliminating the need for the organization to pursue premium free agents like Pete Alonso or Josh Naylor. The 26-year-old posted a breakout campaign with 26 home runs and a 131 OPS+ across 530 plate appearances while splitting time between first base, DH, and catcher.
Rice's underlying metrics reveal an exceptional skill set. He ranked in the 97th percentile in hard-hit rate, 90th percentile in sweet-spot rate, and 92nd percentile in barrel rate—demonstrating elite raw power. Critically, he achieved this without sacrificing contact, posting an 18.9% strikeout rate that exceeded the MLB average by over three percentage points and ranked in the 65th percentile. His 21.2% whiff rate ranked in the 71st percentile.
The combination of Rice's power and contact abilities places him in rare historical company. Among the 11 seasons of Statcast data since 2015 (excluding 2020), only 19 qualifying seasons have matched Rice's percentile thresholds: 90th percentile or better in hard-hit rate, 90th percentile or better in barrel rate, and 60th percentile or better in strikeout rate. Every other player on this list—including Yordan Alvarez, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., José Bautista, Miguel Cabrera, Josh Donaldson, and David Ortiz—has made three or more All-Star teams. Five have won MVP awards, and one is already Hall of Fame-inducted.