Rice Beats the Manager's Bet
Yankees manager Aaron Boone made a prediction back in spring training. He predicted that Ben Rice would finish the season with 39 home runs. Rice has now officially beaten that target.
During Wednesday night's 9-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays, Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs. The performance tied him for the American League home run lead. After hitting the first home run, Rice smiled and pointed at Boone in the dugout.
"I think I said, 'Hey, there's 40 for you,'" Rice said after the game. He joked with Boone again after hitting his 41st, thanking the manager for the inspiration.
Joining Yankees Royalty
With 41 home runs, Rice is tied for the AL lead with Pete Alonso, Junior Caminero, and Yordan Alvarez. He is batting .263 this season and leads the Yankees with 97 RBIs and a .900 OPS.
Rice is now only the third Yankees player to hit 40 home runs in a season within his first three years. The other two players to achieve this are Joe DiMaggio and Aaron Judge.
Rice has stepped up for a Yankees team that has played much of the season without injured stars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He has hit 16 go-ahead home runs and three game-tying home runs this season.
From Late Draft Pick to Star
Rice was a 12th-round draft pick in 2021 from Dartmouth. He made his big league debut in June 2024 after Anthony Rizzo broke his forearm.
His season has had some ups and downs. Rice hit .306 through May but slumped to .196 in June. He fell into an 18-for-58 slide after the All-Star break, which dropped his average to .248 on August 22. However, he has found his form again, batting .333 since then.
His teammate, pitcher Gerrit Cole, praised Rice's balance at the plate, noting his ability to stay balanced and hit various pitches in all parts of the zone.
Predictions for these teams
Read next
- Football predictions today
- Jackpot predictions this week
- MLB and every other league
- MLB official website
Good to know: We are not paid for any link on this page.
Be the first to comment
Tell us who you think wins and why. Keep it friendly. Links are removed on their own.
Note: comments are the writer own opinion, not ours, and never a tip from us.
18+Read this before you bet
- There are no sure bets. Every tip on this page is a chance worked out from data about the next game. A tip at 70 percent still loses about three times in ten. Anyone selling a sure bet or a fixed match is lying.
- Betting is not income. Never bet to pay rent, school fees or a loan, and never borrow to bet, including from mobile loan apps.
- 18 and over only. Betting under 18 is illegal in Kenya.
- Use licensed bookmakers. Only bet with operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Prices here can change before you bet, so check them first.
- Gambling can be addictive. If it stops being fun, stop. Read our responsible betting page or visit Responsible Gaming Federation of Kenya.
Good to know: We are not a bookmaker and we do not take bets. Full details are in our disclaimer.
