Ben Rice has continued to expand his role with the New York Yankees during the 2025 season, demonstrating versatility by playing multiple positions and making consistent contributions. Initially drafted in the 12th round out of Dartmouth in 2021, Rice has filled in at catcher, designated hitter, and first base.
When Will Warren took the mound against the Athletics on June 27, it was Rice behind the plate instead of regular catchers Austin Wells or J.C. Escarra. Rice’s adaptability has become a valuable asset for the team.
Rice addressed his approach to being used in different roles: “You’ve got to keep going every day,” he said. “Every day you get better. That’s all it is.”
The spring brought significant changes for Rice as he stepped into the designated hitter position due to Giancarlo Stanton’s absence with elbow injuries. “Just take it one day at a time,” Rice said. “You don’t have to go out there and be something you’re not. Just go out there and prepare for each day and do the best you can to help the team win.”
Through April, Rice hit .266 with eight home runs and 13 RBIs over 22 games as DH, highlighted by a two-homer performance in Baltimore on April 29.
Yankees hitting coach James Rowson noted Rice’s ability at the plate: “He’s dangerous,” Rowson said. “Benny’s got power, but he’s also a good hitter. He lays off balls out of the zone. He makes it tough on opposing pitchers to get him out, and when you’ve got a lot of guys in your lineup that can do that, it creates a really good synergy in the lineup. Benny’s a part of creating that synergy for us.”
By midseason, Rice had accumulated 14 home runs before the All-Star break—tied for fifth on a Yankees roster leading Major League Baseball with 151 homers at that point—and improved his average from his rookie year.
Reflecting on his progress since last season, Rice explained: “Overall, I still go into each at-bat with a plan, try to get my pitch in the zone and drive it,” he said. “I think having more experience from last year under my belt helps a lot.”
Rowson credited both experience and offseason preparation: “A credit to him, it’s his work,” Rowson said. “Last year when he came in, it was his first year and he was seeing everybody for the first time… I think he really worked on some things in the offseason, stuck with his plan. That same plan and work that he did in the offseason just kind of transferred and keeps going through the year.”
Although much of Rice’s major league time had been spent at first base or DH, he also returned to catching this season—a position where most of his minor league appearances occurred.
Yankees field coordinator Tanner Swanson discussed their approach: “We’re trying to really build and manage volume more than any specific skill development,” Swanson said. “I think Ben’s a very skilled, dynamic catcher. I think it’s his natural position and the one he’s probably the most comfortable with in terms of experience.”
Swanson added that live game action is crucial: “The biggest thing is to just catch as much live pitching as possible,” Rice said. “Because if you’re just catching off the machine, you’re not going to be able to adjust to arms in the game… Taking care of that as much as I can helps me be a little bit more prepared when I get thrown in there.”
Swanson also praised Rice’s preparation off-field: “He’s involved in all meetings… He’s been really committed to our advance process… He’s been really diligent on that front… If asked to go into a game, he’s in a good place.”
Rice made several starts behind home plate without errors or passed balls through mid-July; during this stretch he threw out Logan O’Hoppe attempting to steal.
Swanson explained how this versatility benefits manager Aaron Boone: “It just gives us more flexibility,” Swanson said. “He gives [Aaron Boone] more flexibility… Finding ways to get him into the lineup via behind the plate just strengthens our lineup.”
Rice’s Spanish language skills have also proved useful working with teammates from various backgrounds: “It’s tough to understand it sometimes when they’re going too fast,” Rice commented. “But I can speak it pretty well… Having that ability as a catcher is important.”
Beyond catching duties, Rice resumed playing first base—a position still relatively new despite considerable minor league exposure—making adjustments daily: “First base… it’s still a relatively new position,” Rice explained.
Swanson remarked on Rice’s improvement at first base compared with last season: “In that case… primarily working out at first base… but to see confidence grow from last year to this year—I think he’s coming into his own.”
With growing familiarity after two Spring Trainings and increased confidence gained from experience over two seasons, Rice aims for one clear goal shared by all Yankees players: “Win a World Series.”
This article originally appeared in Yankees Magazine’s August 2025 edition.
