Ben Rice's Struggle to Stay Hot | New York Yankees News

Ben Rice had a solid Sunday with hits and RBIs, but his rising strikeout rate—now hovering around 31% in the second half—is raising red flags. After a stellar 2025 season that included an All-Star nod and MVP buzz, his 2026 numbers have slipped, especially since May’s injury to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton’s absence. His August slump (BA under .150, few extra-base hits) and increased swing percentage on out-of-zone pitches suggest he’s swinging harder, not smarter, hurting his contact rate. While his walk rate remains strong, the trend is concerning as October nears—Rice may be a great player, but can he carry a lineup when the big names are gone? Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0e77fe7e9d87611b