New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice is going into his third season in the Bronx and will be looking to take the next step in his development. Rice posted a .255 batting average with 119 hits, 26 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 74 runs scored in 138 games for the Yankees last season, per StatMuse.
As a result, Rice looks to improve on that production as New York aim to win the AL East and return to the World Series after crashing out in the ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.
With the 2026 MLB season right around the corner, Yankees veteran Paul Goldschmidt shared his thoughts on the 26-year-old.
“He’s a great player, a very smart player, and very hard-working,” Goldschmidt told SNY on Feb. 11. “I saw him just improve a lot last year. The more experience he gets, he’s just going to keep improving over there, keep working, make adjustments, and just has the potential to be a really great player.”
It will be interesting to see if this season can be an All-Star level season at the plate for Rice, knowing that he’s the No. 1 guy at first base. Moreover, he will have someone like Goldschmidt to lean on again this season.
Paul Goldschmidt Won’t Impact Ben Rice’s Playing Time
On Feb. 6, ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Yankees decided to bring back Goldschmidt on a one-year contract. As a result, they’ll have a veteran presence behind Rice and someone who can play when the situation presents itself.
The seven-time All-Star hit .274/.328/.403 across 146 games last season, showing a stark contrast depending on the pitcher: he posted a .981 OPS in 168 plate appearances against left-handers but just a .619 OPS in 366 plate appearances against right-handers.
Furthermore, Goldschmidt becomes the sixth player the Yankees have brought back from last season’s roster, joining Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Amed Rosario, Ryan Yarbrough, and Paul Blackburn.
On Feb. 9, MLB insider Jon Morosi shared his thoughts on what Goldschmidt’s return to New York means for Ben Rice’s playing time as the 26-year-old enters his third MLB season.
“I would say that Ben Rice still enters spring as the predominant first baseman, especially against right‑handed pitching,” Morosi said on MLB Network. “And yet when you consider what Goldy can do [with his] very robust .731 OPS. Still very good, especially against lefties.
“I would say against pretty much every lefty that you face, if you’re the New York Yankees, Goldy is in the lineup somewhere. Now, of course, that could also be at DH depending on what [Giancarlo] Stanton’s role is on a particular day, and [Aaron] Judge as well.”
Yankees Needed Paul Goldschmidt’s Bat Back for 2026
Moreover, Morosi believes that in a division with Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, having another left-handed bat like Goldschmidt’s is critical.
“You like what the Yankees have put together overall. And if you think about the American League East, you’ll have to deal with Garrett Crochet whenever you would expect in most series against the Boston Red Sox. So very valuable indeed to have Goldy’s bat in there against every lefty and some righties as well.”
Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt Doesn’t Hold Back on Ben Rice