'Ben Arroz' breaks down language barrier

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- Ben Rice grinned at his locker this week, recounting the offhand Spanish exchange that had stunned the Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, unveiling the first baseman’s alter ego: “Ben Arroz.”

It took place last July, about two weeks after Rice had been promoted to the big leagues to fill a first-base vacancy and about two innings after Rice had robbed the electric young star with a leaping grab of a line drive destined for right field.

After De La Cruz worked a walk, Rice greeted him in Spanish -- probably something like "¿Qué tal?” or “¿Cómo va?” Rice can’t remember the exact exchange, but he’ll never forget De La Cruz’s reaction.

“He just kind of looked at me funny and we started laughing, just talking a little bit -- kind of like you would in English,” Rice said. “It was just like, ‘What’s up?’ And he said, ‘Oh, it’s cool you speak Spanish.’”

That day on the basepaths, De La Cruz learned what Yankees players throughout the organization have known for years. Luis Rojas, the Yanks’ third-base coach, has said Rice could serve as a second translator -- that is, if he wasn’t busy with his day job of mashing baseballs with red-hot exit velocities.

Rice said he began studying Spanish as a sixth-grader in Cohasset, Mass., when students were given the choice between Spanish and French. Rice chose Spanish, believing it “would be more applicable,” and continued to build on it through his Dartmouth College coursework.

“I just thought the language was fun to speak. I guess it was a good choice,” Rice said. “I placed out of the classes where I was still learning the language, but I took classes that were about Spanish literature, Spanish culture -- all classes where you spoke and wrote in Spanish.”

Though he didn’t choose with baseball in mind, it has turned out to be incredibly valuable, helping him communicate with teammates on the field and behind the scenes.

“As a catcher coming up through the Minors, it was really important to talk to pitchers so mound visits weren’t just silent,” Rice said. “I could actually say something if I had something to say and do my best to understand them at times. It just helps.”

As a pro, Rice continued to add to his tool kit, incorporating Dominican and Venezuelan dialects to supplement what he learned in school while adjusting to the increased speed and flow of daily conversation.

It has built camaraderie. For example, Rice’s fluency helped him develop a close relationship with Dominican right-hander Juan Carela.

Now in the White Sox organization, Carela posted several TikTok videos of “Ben Arroz,” which gained traction shortly after Rice’s big league callup. One has garnered more than 2 million impressions.

“That’s a friendship I probably wouldn’t have developed if I was just speaking English,” Rice said. “He was always a guy I felt I could relate to and get through to, and same with him to me. We could talk through stuff, and Spanish helped with that.”

As Rice’s sixth-grade selection pays dividends, the 26-year-old hopes to see more young students (and ballplayers) follow his example.

“The earlier you start, the better,” Rice said. “I would say for anyone who is playing baseball at the younger levels, to put some effort forth with it and not just go through the motions in class. It might actually end up applying to you one day.

“Just do the best you can, even if you’re just learning bits and pieces here and there. It doesn’t have to be perfect. The effort is what matters.”