Ben Rice, the New York Yankees’ rising star, has revealed the secret behind his stunning power increase. After a challenging rookie season, Rice focused on adding muscle and improving his diet over the offseason. His efforts have paid off, with impressive results during spring training. Batting .279/.340/.558 with four homers and eight RBI in 14 games, Rice has shown significant
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improvements. The Yankees are counting on him to step up this season, especially with key players like Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined. If Rice can maintain his newfound strength, he could be poised for a breakout year.
When Ben Rice made his debut for the New York Yankees last year, power wasn’t a significant part of his game. Like many rookies, Rice struggled to find his footing at the plate. In 50 games after his call-up in June, he batted just .171/.264/.349 (72 OPS+) with 48 strikeouts and -0.4 WAR. While he did hit seven homers, five of them came in a five-game stretch in early July, including three in a single game against the Boston Red Sox.
After that brief hot streak, Rice fell into a deep slump and was demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the end of August. He did not appear in the postseason after batting .109/.211/.207 with two homers and 35 strikeouts over his final 31 games.
Offseason Transformation
Realizing that he needed to make adjustments over the offseason, Rice focused on adding power and filling out his frame. By the time he arrived at spring training in February, he’d added 10-15 pounds of muscle. The 26-year-old outfielder recently revealed why and how he bulked up.
“It was a personal decision. I felt like I had some room to fill out,” said Rice, who was listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds last year. “Made sure to get after it in the weight room. Talked with Drew Weisberg, our dietician here. Just kind of looked at my diet, how I could enhance it. It was really just adding some more food in there.”
By eating more and lifting more, Rice was able to add some “good functional weight,” which has helped boost his power stroke.
Spring Training Success
Rice looks noticeably stronger, which has translated to better results at the plate. Entering Friday’s spring training games, he was batting a more robust .279/.340/.558 with four homers and eight RBI in 14 games. He also has five of the Yankees’ seven hardest-hit balls during spring training—an impressive feat for someone sharing a lineup with former MVPs Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger.
Looking Ahead
Hopefully, Rice’s strong spring and increased confidence will carry over into the regular season. New York is counting on him to step up this year, especially with Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo gone and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined to start the season. As a left-handed hitter, Rice is well-suited to take advantage of Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field. If he builds on his spring training performance and stays healthy, he could end up in the 20-30 homer range this season.
The key for Rice will be keeping the weight on, as many players lose weight throughout the season due to MLB’s grueling schedule. If he’s able to do that, he could be poised for a breakout year.
Bottom Line
Ben Rice’s transformation over the offseason has led to a noticeable power surge during spring training. By focusing on adding muscle and improving his diet, Rice has shown significant improvements at the plate. With key players sidelined, the Yankees are counting on Rice to step up and provide much-needed power. If he can maintain his newfound strength and performance, Rice could be in line for a breakout season.
