Ben Rice excels in spring training for Yankees

Ben Rice is having an impressive spring training with the New York Yankees. During the Grapefruit League, he has been hitting the ball hard and consistently. He hit his fourth home run on Monday during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he went 2-for-4. Rice recorded high exit velocities from both of his hits, with one reaching 111.1 mph and the other 105.8 mph. His average exit velocity this spring is 97.4 mph, one of the best in baseball. This is notable since Aaron Judge, a top hitter, had an average exit velocity of 96.2 mph last season. Rice has gained 10 pounds of muscle since last June, which has boosted his hitting power. He believes this added strength allows him to generate more force when hitting the ball. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Rice's skills, saying, “It’s real juice everywhere.” While Rice is viewed as a talented catcher, he is likely to see most of his playing time this season as a designated hitter, especially with Giancarlo Stanton injured. The Yankees plan to have three catchers on the roster, and Rice is expected to take up the DH role alongside Austin Wells. Last year, Rice started strong in his debut, but his performance later cooled down. Boone noted that Rice's power seems to have improved this spring, referring to a "noticeably different" level of hitting. The Yankees are excited to see how he continues to develop as the season approaches.