Most of his classmates at Nobles cherished the Pink Sox however Rice stayed true to the pinstripes.
Rice grew to become an completed participant himself, a hard-hitting first baseman and catcher in highschool after which at Dartmouth Faculty.
Rice was satisfied both the Pink Sox or Yankees would take him within the 2021 draft.
“These have been the 2 groups that enjoyed me essentially the most,” he stated.
The Yankees jumped first, grabbing Rice within the twelfth spherical. The Pink Sox regretted it Saturday when Rice grew to become the primary rookie in Yankees historical past to hit three dwelling runs in a sport.
Not Gehrig, DiMaggio, or Mantle. Ben Rice of Cohasset. Dan and Sophie’s child.
“He put collectively form of a legendary day,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated after Rice drove in seven runs in a 14-4 rout of the Sox.
Rice hit a solo shot into the second deck in proper subject off Josh Winckowski main off the primary inning. Then got here a three-run blast to proper off Chase Anderson within the fifth.
Historical past occurred within the seventh inning. Anderson left a pitch over the center of the plate and Rice lined it into the stands in right-center for an additional three-run homer.
Three dwelling runs demanded a curtain name and Rice was prodded up the dugout steps by his teammates to tip his helmet to the cheering crowd.
“Positively a day I’ll always remember,” stated Rice, who had one dwelling run in 46 at-bats in his earlier 16 video games.
At 25, Rice grew to become the primary Yankees rookie with seven RBIs since Gehrig in 1925. He additionally was the youngest Yankee with three dwelling runs since 24-year-old Bobby Murcer in 1970.
The one different time Rice hit three dwelling runs was in a 2019 Futures Collegiate League sport for the Worcester Bravehearts.
There weren’t 20 reporters crowded round Rice after that sport, or a gang of household and associates ready for him to depart the clubhouse.
“Such a cool day,” he stated.
That Rice has performed within the majors in any respect is one thing to have fun given his winding path to the majors.
His 2020 season with the Huge Inexperienced ended after seven video games due to the pandemic. He compensated by enjoying 43 video games for Worcester and hitting .350.
The Ivies canceled the 2021 season and Rice settled for showcase exercises in entrance of scouts and 13 video games for Cotuit within the Cape Cod League.
Rice was extra of a catcher than a primary baseman within the minors. However the Yankees wanted him to play first base after Anthony Rizzo broke his proper arm when he collided with Brennan Bernardino throughout a sport at Fenway on June 16.
Rice has since hit .294 with a .971 OPS in 17 video games.
“I’ve loads of confidence in my strategy,” Rice stated. “Up right here is not any completely different. The sport hasn’t modified, the bases are nonetheless in all the identical spots. That’s form of allowed me to hit the bottom working just a little bit right here.”
The Yankees have been determined for what Rice gave them Saturday. That they had misplaced 4 straight and 14 of the earlier 18.
Then the Pink Sox knocked Gerrit Cole out of the sport within the fifth and had a 4-3 lead earlier than the Yankees scored seven runs within the backside of the inning.
“That’s one thing individuals watching right here will always remember and clearly was a lot wanted,” Boone stated.
Saturday was the 658th time a participant has hit three dwelling runs in a sport. Boone did it twice in his profession. Rice’s teammate Aaron Decide additionally has twice on his resume.
Will Middlebrooks, who was calling the sport on NESN, did it someday in Toronto.
The trick for Rice might be constructing on this present day, not resting on it.
“We’re very early in his profession up right here,” Boone stated. “However you watch him take BP and see the balls he hit [Saturday] and it’s actual energy.
“He’s a very assured participant and clearly a sensible child. It’s nonetheless a piece in progress.”
Rice did his interview session in shorts and a T-shirt. Then he shortly modified to go meet his dad and mom, girlfriend, and everyone else he had on the sport.
“Unimaginable day,” he stated at his locker. “I can’t consider it was in opposition to the Pink Sox.”
Peter Abraham could be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Comply with him @PeteAbe.