What Aaron Judge and Ben Rice, Yankees’ new dynamic duo, think of each other

“Man, that ball was pummeled,” manager Aaron Boone said. “This is a ballpark, they’ll tell you it doesn’t yield a lot of home runs and to hit a line drive into the bullpen there the other way, impressive.

“The only thing more impressive was the 1 to 12 breaking ball that Judge rifled into the seats right after him. So it’s a little bit of a hold your beer moment.”

Back to Rice …

“Just consistent at-bat after consistent at-bat,” Judge said. “It’s must-watch TV at this point. He steps up to the plate, it doesn’t matter: Nobody’s on, guy on, tough situation. He’s gonna put something in play hard, or he’s gonna take his walk and pass the baton.

“It’s just impressive to watch, and I get a front row seat hitting right behind him now. It makes my job easy when he does that.”

And vice versa for Rice, who has been hitting second, with the right-handed Judge batting third for three games in a row.. Earlier this season, Judge often was in his usual two-hole with Rice hitting third or fourth.

“I enjoy hitting in the order with him, whether I’m in front of him or behind him,” Rice said. “I think there’s different scenarios, different pitchers that either way works, so anytime I can be near him in the lineup is a good one.”

Judge is hitting only .252 after winning the AL batting title with a career-best .331 last year, but he’s heating up, batting .294 with eight homers and 12 RBIs over his last 15 games.

“I think we’re seeing him at his floor right now, which is just kind of crazy,” Rice said of Judge. “But he’s looked so good. His approach is always so great. Obviously, the power is always there. And he’s our leader. He’s the captain.”

Judge reached base in all four plate appearances Monday, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a homer and a hit by pitch.

“I’ve just come to accept that he’s different than everyone else,” Boone said. “He’s playing a different game is the way I’ve said it, and I mean it.

“Yeah, he’s been alright, and he’s probably got a 1,000 OPS and on pace for another 50, 60, 70 homers, whatever.”

The Yankees figure that Judge is going to get really hot at some point and stay that way for a month, then do it a couple more times because he has runs like that every season.

“I feel like I’ve been on a big stretch all year,” Judge said with sarcasm. “I’m kidding! We’re winning ballgames, which is the most important thing, and it’s just about showing up every day trying to put the work in.

“Good stretches will come. It’s baseball. You’re gonna have a good couple weeks, couple months. You’re gonna have some bad stretches. But it’s just about showing up and not getting too down when it’s not going your way.”

Judge’s numbers thus far are only down a little by his superstar standards.

Boone was right, by the way: Judge’s OPS is 1.010.

Also, his 11 homers, which are one behind the White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami for the MLB lead, have him on pace for 61 home runs.

“You’re talking about the best player in baseball,” Yankees pitcher Max Fried said after shutting out the Rangers for six innings. “He can change a game with one swing, but also he understands the moment, understands the game.

“He’ll take his walk if they’re not throwing to him. But if they leave one over the middle, he’s going to make them pay.”

Rice’s star keeps rising, too.

“I’m not surprised by Ben anymore,” Fried said. “He’s been working really hard and the hitter that he’s become has been really fun to watch. He’s right up there with some of the best hitters in baseball.”

Rice’s 2025 breakout would have been better if he weren’t so unlucky. While being in the top 95 percentile for exit velocity, he hit just .255 because so many of his hard-hit balls were outs.

This year, Rice has been finding holes.

“It definitely helps, but if you keep focusing on the process, those things will take care of itself,” Rice said. “So just go up there keep trying to hit the ball hard and good at-bats.”

Home runs address a hitter’s bad luck, too.

“There are no fielders over the fence,” he said.

A month into the season, Judge and Rice have been the best righty/lefty slugging duo in the majors. They won’t be the next Willie Mays and Willie McCovey unless Rice keeps it up, but they might be just as good as Juan Soto and Judge were together in 2024, their one season as teammates.

“Obviously Benny’s off to an amazing start,” Boone said. “Judge, ho hum, 11 homers already. Yeah, it’s a pretty good combo there!”

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