
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
The New York Yankees, after a strong start to the season, are now struggling offensively, ranking among the bottom five teams in MLB for total hits and batting average. Key players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and Ryan McMahon are experiencing slow starts.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 09, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Though the New York Yankees opened the season with a 13-run series sweep of the San Francisco Giants, the teamâs offense has faltered since.
The Yankees are a bottom-five team in all of Major League Baseball in total hits and batting average. Several key players, including Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells and Ryan McMahon, are off to slow starts. Surprisingly, one of the best offenses in the sport last year is now mired in some struggles.
âEven after Monday nightâs offensive awakening, an 11-10 series-opening win over the (Los Angeles) Angels, the Yankees were sitting on a .214 team batting average that ranked 27th best among 30 MLB teams with two starters hitting in the .230s and five in the .100s,â Randy Miller wrote for NJ.com.
However, there has been one particularly bright spot for the Yankeesâ offense as homegrown infielder Ben Rice is slashing .362/.508/.745 with an MLB-leading 1.253 OPS.
Thatâs why it turned some heads when the Yankees announced that Rice was removed from the lineup for Tuesdayâs game against the Angels.
Defending the decision, manager Aaron Boone indicated that he was looking for an opportunity to get 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt at-bats instead and that he would look to get Rice into the game off of the bench.
âBoone said that he initially planned on starting Rice on Tuesday, but he likes the way heâs been able to use the left-handed swinger aggressively off the bench so far this season,â Gary Phillips wrote for the New York Daily News. âItâs because Riceâs hard-hitting bat is so valuable that fans take issue whenever heâs out of the lineup. But with Boone showing an eagerness to use his bench early and often in the early going this season, Rice has played in games he hasnât started.â
With the Yankeesâ offense struggling and Rice leading the team in several offensive categories, it seems like Boone could be forced to find an everyday spot for the young slugger in the near future. The Yankees lost Tuesdayâs game 7-1, with Goldschmidt going hitless and Rice recording the sole RBI in a pinch-hitting appearance.
But Rice has been aware that he could be moved into a pinch-hitting role at any point this season. He explained why he feels confident about his chances to have a positive impact, even when the Yankees move him out of the starting lineup.
âWhen theyâre putting you in to pinch-hit, theyâre putting you into a matchup that they believe you can have success in,â Rice said, according to Phillips. âThat gives you confidence to go out there and try to perform.â
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
The New York Yankees are currently among the bottom five teams in Major League Baseball for total hits and batting average.
Key players struggling include Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and Ryan McMahon.
The Yankees opened the season with a 13-run series sweep of the San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees, who had one of the best offenses last year, are now experiencing significant struggles this season.

Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
Analyst Says Cowboys May Not Trade Up in NFL Draft Despite Expectations
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is in a dispute with FIFA over $100 travel prices for the 2026 World Cup. The disagreement centers on the financial burden placed on the state due to the event's logistics.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.