Ben Rice has been working to improve his catching skills for the New York Yankees, spending extra time in the bullpen to maintain his receiving abilities. Although he began the season playing first base and designated hitter, Rice has recently taken on more responsibility behind the plate as Austin Wells has struggled and Giancarlo Stanton returned to the lineup.
Rice explained, “It means a lot. Every start back there just adds to the confidence. I’m happy I’m able to be flexible enough to go to multiple spots.”
The Yankees were initially hesitant to use Rice regularly as a catcher, despite his background at that position in their Minor League system. Manager Aaron Boone noted Rice’s progress: “He hasn’t done it a lot at this level, so there’s still some things to learn, but we’ve really been pleased with how well he’s handled it.”
Last year, Rice primarily played first base after Anthony Rizzo was injured and caught only one inning during a game in Toronto. This season, however, he has joined fellow catchers Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra for regular catching drills and scouting meetings.
“I think we did a good job making it a little easier by just staying on top of catching bullpens, always sitting in on all of our scouting meetings,” Rice said. “I caught a lot of these guys in Spring Training. I understood the guys’ arsenals and their strengths.
“It’s my natural position. I’ve done it my whole life, so I figured I’d be able to make that transition a little easier that way.”
On Tuesday, pitcher Carlos Rodón credited Rice after they held the Minnesota Twins to one run and one hit over seven innings: “I thought Ben was great,” Rodón said. “He’s made big strides for the first time catching in the big leagues this year. He’s a guy who’s got to be in the lineup.”
Rice started his first Major League game at catcher on June 18 against the Angels and now has 20 appearances at catcher this season, including 12 starts. The Yankees have won his last three starts behind the plate.
Boone highlighted Rice’s growth: “Him now from two months ago is a lot different,” Boone said. “He’s gaining confidence and playing really well.”
Statistical measures show areas where Rice can continue improving—Baseball Savant reports that his average throw on stolen-base attempts is 75.9 mph (ranking 79th among 90 catchers), with two runners caught stealing out of seven tries; his pitch framing ranks 22nd overall.
Rice acknowledged these are areas of focus: “It’s a team effort,” Rice said. “Everyone’s just on top of it, trying to get the most out of our pitchers, reading hitters, reading swings. We all work together.”
Offensively, Rice has hit safely in nine of his last 13 games since July 30 and currently holds a .233 batting average with an on-base percentage of .326 and slugging percentage of .456 over 101 games (17 home runs and 38 RBIs). His expected batting average (.290) and hard-hit rate (54.8 percent) suggest better results may follow.
Cody Bellinger commented on Rice’s approach at bat: “Ever since Spring Training, he’s hit the ball so hard,” said Cody Bellinger. “He really controls every single at-bat. He’s a really smart guy. He’s got a plan up there. It’s fun to watch. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
