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.
NEW YORK – Ben Rice and Aaron Judge had been engaged in a playful back-and-forth for the Yankees’ home run lead this season, prompting one occasion on which the captain remarked: “I’m not going to let him catch me.”
Rice didn’t think Judge was joking, either.
An injury has spoiled the fun. With Judge sidelined by a stress fracture in his right first rib, the Yankees are preparing for an extended stretch without their main attraction -- moving Rice into an even more important role at the center of their lineup.
Yet Rice insists he won’t do anything differently while Judge is out.
“Like I’ve said, it’s just keep focusing on today,” Rice said. “Stay in the present, and we’ll evaluate at the end.”
The early returns have been strong, continuing a breakout campaign that has placed Rice among the American League’s leading MVP candidates.
Having claimed the team homer lead from Judge with his 18th long ball during the rivalry series against the Red Sox, Rice has developed into a legitimate middle-of-the-order force, earning his place alongside the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez in the MVP discussion.
More immediately, he’s on track to earn his first All-Star selection.
“Ben Rice,” general manager Brian Cashman said this week, “has been fantastic.”
Those accolades are coming into view as the Yankees look to Rice and others in hopes of keeping their playoff expectations afloat, looking to reverse their trend of struggling without Judge.
Over the past week, numerous pinstriped voices have remarked that no one can replace what Judge means to them. That’s true; their record since 2022 speaks to that. Through Sunday, they are 13 games under .500 (37-50) in their last 87 games with Judge out of the starting lineup.
“It’s a big presence to not have in our lineup,” Rice said. “It’s definitely going to kind of hurt us. But I mean, all we can do is just keep moving forward, take it day by day. I definitely look forward to getting him back.”
The Yankees should. The team has been careful not to commit to a firm timetable for Judge’s return – “Those are made up,” Judge said – but No. 99 is expected to resume swinging a bat sometime in the second half.
For now, the Yankees (38-26) are right where they need to be, entering Monday in a virtual tie with the Rays (37-25) atop the American League East.
As one veteran talent evaluator said this weekend: “The Yankees are going to be fine, because they can pitch,” pointing to a stacked rotation that figures to only get stronger when Max Fried returns.
Do they have enough offense to remain steady? Cashman wouldn’t tip his hand, saying that Judge’s absence does not necessarily mean the club will seek a hitter ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
“I guess it’s a good question, because it’s something I didn’t consider,” Cashman said. “If we expect him back, which we do, then I don’t see why that would impact something for the Deadline. So we’ve just got to hold the fort and hold that spot nice and warm for him when he returns.”
There are obvious areas where the Yankees could look to upgrade, including third base, shortstop, catcher. Cashman said he is “always open-minded,” adding that he considers the current players at those positions to be “part of the solution, not necessarily part of the problem.”
Some upgrades could come from in-house: Carlos Lagrange’s triple-digit heat is around the corner as a bullpen addition. They’re also expecting to have Jasson Domínguez and Giancarlo Stanton back in the fold within weeks.
Stanton’s return may eventually raise another question: whether Rice moves behind the plate, with Paul Goldschmidt taking over first base while Stanton reclaims the DH spot. That might make sense on paper, but Rice’s offense has been so valuable, the Yankees are hesitant to have him strap on the gear.
“It’s not something that’s on the radar right now,” Cashman said.
Evaluating Rice’s performance at the plate this season, manager Aaron Boone said Rice’s ability to game-plan and process information stands out.
“He controls the zone and hits the ball really hard; that’s where you want to live as a hitter,” Boone said. “But how he prepares and goes about it, how he processes information, he’s very specific in how he goes up there against a particular pitcher and what he’s looking for.
“He understands shapes that different pitchers have and what their pitches are going to do. I think he’s very adept at understanding that.”
The events of this past week have revealed this: Judge’s injury may not create internal pressure for Rice, but it certainly underlines how valuable he has become.
“We’ll see what happens,” Rice said. “All I can do is just control the pitches I swing at and the ones that I don’t swing at.”