sports
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Yankees' Ben Rice, With High OPS, Rides Bench: How Strategic Decisions Impact PA Baseball Fans
National Desk
April 15, 2026
Why it matters locally: While the saga of Ben Rice and his playing time with the New York Yankees might seem distant, it indirectly resonates with baseball fans across Pennsylvania. Many Pennsylvanians are dedicated followers of MLB teams, including the Yankees, and closely track player performance and team strategies. The decision to bench a player with a high on-base percentage sparks debate and water cooler discussion among baseball enthusiasts everywhere including Pennsylvania..
NEW YORK -- Ben Rice, despite leading all MLB hitters in on-base percentage (.508) and OPS (1.253), started on the bench for the New York Yankees for the second consecutive game against a left-handed starting pitcher Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Aaron Boone said the decision to not start Rice, who bats left-handed, was strategic. Boone said he prefers to utilize Rice in specific, high-impact situations. In previous games against left-handed starters, Rice has been used as a substitute. On Friday, he hit a home run as a pinch-hitter in a 5-3 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. During Tuesday's game, Rice entered in the fifth inning, recording a walk and a single in three plate appearances, contributing to the Yankees' 11-10 win. “I’ve been able to fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game,’’ Boone said regarding his strategy. He also stated that Rice "is going to play against lefties." Boone also mentioned plans for Rice to eventually start at catcher, but said he is not yet comfortable with Rice catching for extended periods of five or more innings. The team intends to increase Rice's experience as a catcher through simulated games. Currently, the focus has been primarily on reps at first base, which is not Rice's natural position.
NEW YORK -- Ben Rice, despite leading all MLB hitters in on-base percentage (.508) and OPS (1.253), started on the bench for the New York Yankees for the second consecutive game against a left-handed starting pitcher Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Aaron Boone said the decision to not start Rice, who bats left-handed, was strategic. Boone said he prefers to utilize Rice in specific, high-impact situations. In previous games against left-handed starters, Rice has been used as a substitute. On Friday, he hit a home run as a pinch-hitter in a 5-3 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. During Tuesday's game, Rice entered in the fifth inning, recording a walk and a single in three plate appearances, contributing to the Yankees' 11-10 win. “I’ve been able to fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game,’’ Boone said regarding his strategy. He also stated that Rice "is going to play against lefties." Boone also mentioned plans for Rice to eventually start at catcher, but said he is not yet comfortable with Rice catching for extended periods of five or more innings. The team intends to increase Rice's experience as a catcher through simulated games. Currently, the focus has been primarily on reps at first base, which is not Rice's natural position.
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