What Ben Rice still means to the Yankees without Judge

Ben Rice remains central to the New York Yankees even after a post-Aaron Judge slump: the first baseman still shares the team home run lead and carried MVP-caliber production for much of 2026, but he has regressed since late July as the burden of anchoring a depleted lineup weighs on the 27-year-old.

When Judge last played, Ben Rice led the majors with a 1.056 OPS and tied Judge with 17 home runs, vaulting him into the American League MVP race, according to the New York Post. Judge's fractured rib removed the lineup's centerpiece — and the context that helped Rice thrive. For more on how performance expectations shift across industries, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.

Key Takeaways

• Rice posted a 167 wRC+ through the All-Star break but has slumped to a 38 wRC+ since July 28.
• Without Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton, Rice faces pressure as the offense's primary focal point.
• Yankees first basemen rank eighth in wRC+ overall but have cratered since August.
• Analysts warn against expecting Rice to single-handedly carry an elite offense.
• Reinforcements including Judge and Bellinger are nearing return down the stretch.

Why has Ben Rice struggled without Aaron Judge?

Judge's rib injury at the end of May transformed the Yankees' offense. Through May, the club posted the second-best team wRC+ in the majors; since June, they have managed the second-worst mark, per Pinstripe Alley.

Rice initially rose to the challenge, playing at a near-MVP level and posting a 167 wRC+ with plenty of power through the All-Star break. But since July 28, he has hit a wall — a 38 wRC+, a .237 on-base percentage, and just four extra-base hits in 76 plate appearances.

Yahoo Sports notes Rice is now the only hitter opposing teams single out when building a game plan. For the first time in his career, he is anchoring a lineup rather than complementing a fully healthy roster.

What do the numbers say about Yankees first base?

The slump extends beyond Rice. Paul Goldschmidt enjoyed a renaissance with a 153 wRC+ and 14 homers through 224 plate appearances, but since June 26 he has slashed .144/.212/.221. Trade acquisition Luis García Jr. has slugged just .381 across 11 games.

Overall, Yankees first basemen carry a 128 wRC+ — eighth in the league — but the trend has worsened: eighth-worst since May 1, fifth-worst since June 1, and second-worst since August 1. Production that once carried the club has become a drag.

Is it fair to expect Ben Rice to carry the lineup?

Rice opened August with a 4-for-40 stretch that drew intense scrutiny, yet Yahoo Sports argues that holding him accountable for lifting the entire offense is unreasonable. His best production came when inserted into a lineup context far different from today's.

Expecting Trent Grisham to get on base consistently or asking depth pieces to mash is more pressing than demanding Rice replicate his early-season MVP form alone. Fairness rarely governs high-level sports, but the healthiest path forward is recalibrating expectations.

Can the Yankees still count on Ben Rice down the stretch?

There are reasons for optimism. Rice delivered one of his biggest hits of the year — an extra-innings homer in Toronto that powered a win. Big moments have a habit of sparking turnaround stretches, and Rice is the type of hitter who can heat up quickly, as he showed around the All-Star break.

With Bellinger activated and Judge potentially nearing a return, reinforcements are on the horizon. Until then, and realistically into the postseason, production from Rice and his first-base counterparts will be vital. The Yankees have seen it before in 2026 — they just need to see it again.