SouthernWorldwide.com – Ben Rice is experiencing a remarkable season, positioning himself as a strong contender for the American League MVP award in 2026.
The 27-year-old New York Yankees first baseman has emerged as a significant force for the team. His impressive performance this season can be quantified through various statistical achievements.
1: Rice currently leads the Yankees in multiple key offensive categories. These include hits (62), doubles (15), RBIs (44), total bases (132), runs scored (46), batting average (.300), on-base percentage (.393), slugging percentage (.638), OPS (1.031), and OPS+ (184).
2: His advanced metrics are equally outstanding. Rice’s .638 slugging percentage, 1.031 OPS, 184 OPS+, and .435 weighted on-base percentage all rank second in Major League Baseball, according to FanGraphs.
2.7: His offensive WAR (wins above replacement) stands at 2.7. This places him in a three-way tie for seventh in MLB with Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins and Kevin McGonigle, an infielder for the Detroit Tigers.
5: Rice has recorded five games with three or more hits this season, showcasing his ability to consistently get on base and drive in runs.
16: He has accumulated 16 multi-hit games, further demonstrating his offensive prowess and reliability.
17: In terms of power, Rice is tied with Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, a three-time AL MVP, for the team lead with 17 home runs. This places them in a tie with Matt Olson, the first baseman for the Atlanta Braves, for fifth in the league.
40: Rice has recorded at least one hit in 40 games this season, a testament to his consistent offensive production.
44: This number is significant in the context of Yankees franchise history. Tino Martinez hit 44 home runs in 1997, the most by a Yankees first baseman since Lou Gehrig’s multiple seasons with over 40 homers. Rice is currently on pace to surpass Martinez’s 1997 total and is on track to challenge Gehrig’s franchise records for a first baseman, despite having made 34 starts and 37 appearances at first base, while also serving as the designated hitter in 19 games.
90: His power at the plate is further evidenced by his Statcast data. Rice’s average exit velocity of 92.3 mph ranks in the 90th percentile of MLB.
91: His hard-hit percentage, which measures the frequency of batted balls with high exit velocities, stands at 50.7%, placing him in the 91st percentile of the sport.
95: Rice’s barrel percentage, a metric that indicates the quality of contact made on batted balls, is 17.1%, ranking him in the 95th percentile of MLB.
Fans can watch Rice and the Yankees in action against their AL East rivals, the Boston Red Sox, at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX and the FOX Sports app.
