Why Ben Rice Should Be New York's Every Day, Every Night First Baseman Until Anthony Rizzo Returns

On Sunday June 18, 2024 catcher first baseman Ben Rice was promoted from Scranton/ Wilkies -Barre to New York the team that wears the pinstripes following Anthony Rizzo fracturing right, hand wrist in New York the team that wears the pinstripes 9-3 loss to Boston Sunday.

Anthony Rizzo is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. according to a report from The Athletic on Monday. The team has not confirmed the news.

Following Anthony Rizzo fracturing his arm, wrist New York the team that wears the pinstripes manager Aaron Boone had this to say about Anthony Rizzo!

When he didn’t get up right away, I could tell he was in some pain,”

Following Anthony Rizzo fracturing his arm, wrist New York the team that wears the pinstripes captain, center Aaron Judge had this to say about his teammate New York the team that wears the pinstripes first baseman Anthony Rizzo!

You don’t see that [pain] from Rizz,”“Usually he leads Major League Baseball in hit-by-pitches, so he’s good with dealing with pain. He’s tough.”

According to Bryan Hoch MLB article https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/anthony-rizzo-yankees-injury-collision

As catcher, first baseman for Scranton/ Wilkies -Barre in 2024 season Ben Rice has had 222 at bats contributed offensively 45 runs, 61 hits , 15 home runs, 36 runs batted in , 9 stolen bases and had a batting average of 275.

According to https://www.milb.com/player/ben-rice-700250

Before being promoted from Scranton/ Wilkies -Barre to New York the team that wears the pinstripes following Anthony Rizzo fracturing right hand, wrist in New York the team that wears the pinstripes 9-3 loss to Boston Sunday Ben Rice had this to say about how he has performed offensively with Scranton/ Wilkies -Barre.

It’s just continuing to see more pitching,”

. “The more I got used to the stuff that guys had at this level or in pro ball in general, the more I was able to take that power I have in practice settings and see it translate to the game.”

I’m going to be wherever they need me to be,”

I’m more experienced as a catcher than at first base, so I would think that’s where I primarily would be. But if first base is where they ever need me to be, I’d be able to go over there too.”

I feel good over there [at first base],

“It’s a learning process, like any other position would be. Infield is not something that’s totally foreign to me. I used to play second base a lot when I was younger, so it’s really just continuing to get reps over there. It’s just like anything; you’ve just got to keep going out there and keep seeing balls come off the bat, getting grounders, knowing where to be on the field in different situations. But I definitely like the improvements I’ve made over there so far.”

According Bryan Hoch MLB article https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ben-rice-on-promotion-to-triple-a-hot-stretch?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Since being promoted to New York the team that wears the pinstripes Ben Rice has had 19 at bats contributed offensively 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 run batted in and has a batting of 316 that includes 2 at bats, 1 run and 1 hit when New York Yankees were opposing New York Mets in the Subway Series Tuesday in New York Yankees 9-7 loss to New York Mets in Queens New York where he replaced JD Davis who started at first base for New York Yankees in Subway Series opener when opposing New York Mets JD Davis was 0-3 contributing offensively 0 runs, 0 home runs, 0 runs batted in and has a batting average of 230.

I think Aaron Boone, New York the team that wears the pinstripes is better off playing Ben Rice at first base until Anthony Rizzo returns because likely Ben Rice is likely probably going to produce runs offensively for New York the team that wears the pinstripes while JD Davis has yet to produce runs offensively for New York the team that wears the pinstripes.