The New York Yankees were forced to experiment at first base when Anthony Rizzo went down in 2024, but Ben Rice proved to be much more than just a stopgap option.
After an inconsistent rookie season, Rice earned his pinstripes in 2025, smashing 26 home runs as a near full-time player for the Yankees. Rice split time between first base, catcher and designated hitter, showcasing some versatility to make up for not having a true home on the diamond.
Rice's unlikely career path led him to the Yankees, but he did not grow up in Yankees country by any means.
Here's what you need to know about Rice's roots and path to the Bronx.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Where is Ben Rice from?
Rice was born and raised in Cohasset, Massachusetts, a town to the southeast of Boston. Despite growing up in the heart of Boston Red Sox country, Rice says he was a Yankees fan with Derek Jeter as his favorite player.
"We did a little tour of Fenway Park, and when we went over to the Pesky Pole, I wrote ‘Yankees Rule’ on the Pesky Pole," Rice told MLB.com. "So, probably one of the very few, if any, pro-Yankees writing on there."
Rice attended high school in nearby Dedham, playing baseball for Noble and Greenough School after playing hockey as a child. While hockey was his first love, he started to focus more on baseball as he drew interest from college coaches.
That journey took him to the Division I level, where Rice's career can be considered incomplete at best. Here are the details on Rice's college days.
MORE: Inside Aaron Judge's career postseason stats
Where did Ben Rice go to college?
Rice spent his college career at Dartmouth in New Hampshire, but he didn't do much playing.
After receiving 81 plate appearances as a true freshman in 2019, Rice saw his 2020 season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic following only seven games. The Ivy League then cancelled the 2021 season due to the pandemic, leaving Rice with only 110 collegiate plate appearances when the Yankees took a flier on him in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
The Yankees largely relied on an impressive showing from Rice in a summer league when they selected him, but that gamble has paid off far more than most 12th round selections ever do.
Brad Ausmus and Kyle Hendricks are the most successful Dartmouth players to ever play in the majors, and Rice could be on his way to joining them.
MORE: Key stats to know from Aaron Judge vs. Cal Raleigh MVP debate
Ben Rice age
Rice is 26 years old; he is set to turn 27 on Feb. 22 and wouldn't become a free agent until after the 2030 season.
MORE: Why Yankees changed facial hair policy in 2025
Ben Rice career stats
| Season | Team | Games | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS |
| 2024 | Yankees | 50 | .171 | 7 | 23 | .613 |
| 2025 | Yankees | 138 | .255 | 26 | 65 | .836 |
Rice cooled off quickly after a hot start to his career in 2024, but he never completely cooled off in his first full major league season.
The former Ivy Leaguer hit 26 home runs over 138 games with the Yankees in 2025, making a few dozen appearances at catcher, first base and as a designated hitter.
Rice didn't appear in the postseason in 2024 but started his playoff career with a bang in 2025, blasting an early 2-run home run in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.
Ben Rice homers on the first #Postseason pitch he sees! pic.twitter.com/7MkVbPj1pt
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2025