CC Sabathia didn't begin his Hall of Fame career with the New York Yankees, but he has seen first-hand the pressure that is placed on young players to produce for the club shortly after being called up.
"It’s hard to develop young talent here. Just because of the demand, right? We’re trying to win the World Series every year. You don’t have time for guys to go through growing pains," Sabathia said in an exclusive interview with the New York Post's Erich Richter.
While many a Yankees youngster has left for greener pastures and broken out with other big-league clubs, first baseman Ben Rice has become one of the team's most valuable everyday contributors in just his second season.
Former Yankees outfielder believes Rice can be a 'future cornerstone' for the franchise
Cameron Maybin, a media personality who played 15 MLB seasons (including one with the Yankees in 2019), recently took to social media to give his flowers to Rice.
"Ben Rice isn’t just on a hot streak, he looks like a future cornerstone for the Yankees," Maybin wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sept. 8. "Incredible pop clutch at bats and big game energy, The Bronx might have found its next young star!"
Ben Rice isn’t just on a hot streak,he looks like a future cornerstone for the Yankees. Incredible pop clutch at bats and big game energy, The Bronx might have found its next young star!
— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) September 8, 2025
After a relatively slow start to his major-league career, Rice headed into September coming off his best month of play with the Yankees. Rice hit .283 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, 11 runs scored and a .905 OPS across 26 games in August.
Rice's positive momentum slowed slightly last week, but he flipped it back into his favor in the Yankees' 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sept. 7, during which he hit a three-run home run (his 23rd of the season) off Max Scherzer in the first inning.
With fellow first baseman Paul Goldschmidt set to hit free agency after this season, the Yankees are hoping Rice can perform at a level worthy of him being the club's starter at the position for the foreseeable future.