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Yankees fans should believe Ben Rice's breakout is for real this season
TL;DR
Ben Rice is having a breakout season for the New York Yankees in 2026, showing significant improvement from last year. MLB's Bryan Hoch believes Rice could become a future All-Star and a key player alongside Aaron Judge.
Key points
- Ben Rice is having a breakout season in 2026.
- He is expected to be a future All-Star.
- Rice is seen as a key player alongside Aaron Judge.
New York YankeesBen RiceAaron Judge
Yankees fans should believe Ben Rice's breakout is for real this season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Major League Baseball season is only just underway, some clear storylines are forming for the year.
For the New York Yankees, the biggest storyline is the breakout of Ben Rice. He was already great last season, but he's taking his play to a new level in 2026.
Amid such a breakout, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch is calling for Yankees fans to believe this breakout is for real, and that Rice is a future All-Star, and a lefty-hitting counterpart to Aaron Judge on the right side of the plate.
Yankees fans should believe in Ben Rice's breakout
"Yankees: Ben Rice is a future All-Star," Hoch writes. "The next step in Rice's development will come with increased opportunities against left-handed pitching."
Rice had a .255 batting average and an .836 OPS across 138 games last season. It was a great year, but there was room for improvement.
And he's shown exactly that so far in 2026. While it's only been 20 games, with limited playing time against lefty pitching, Rice has dominated this season.
He is currently hitting .339 with a ridiculous 1.242 OPS to begin the season. While not a super-long sample-size, Rice's production has been extensive enough to believe in.
More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece
Q&A
What makes Ben Rice's breakout season significant for the Yankees?
Ben Rice's breakout season is significant as he is expected to elevate the Yankees' offense and potentially become a future All-Star, complementing Aaron Judge.
How did Ben Rice perform last season compared to this year?
Ben Rice had a strong performance last season, but he has taken his game to a new level in 2026, indicating a substantial improvement.
What are the expectations for Ben Rice in the 2026 MLB season?
Expectations for Ben Rice in the 2026 MLB season include becoming a key player for the Yankees and possibly earning All-Star recognition.