The New York Yankees have leaned on Aaron Judge for years as their offensive centerpiece, but with Juan Soto gone, this season demanded new heroes. Cody Bellinger’s arrival from Chicago has stabilized the lineup, but the most unexpected star may be Ben Rice.

The 26-year-old homegrown slugger is emerging as a cornerstone bat, and his latest heroics against the Baltimore Orioles might be the signature moment of his breakout season.

Rice’s grand slam delivers in extra innings

Sunday’s matchup against Baltimore carried weight, with the Yankees chasing the top spot in the AL East. Tied 1–1 in the 10th inning, Rice stepped into the box against left-hander Keegan Akin. His splits against southpaws have been underwhelming—just a .208 average this year—but Rice didn’t flinch. He turned on a midd

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