The ripple effects from Ben Rice’s three-homer game have continued.
When appearing Monday afternoon on “Foul Territory,” the Yankees first baseman seemed receptive to sporting a new look if the team wins the 2024 World Series.
“Sure!” Rice exclaimed when asked if he would shave his head if the team were to win its 28th championship.
The question from former Yankees catcher Erik Kratz stemmed from Yankees fan/podcaster Derek Levandowski, who tweeted during Saturday’s game after Rice hit two home runs that he would shave his head if Rice hit a third homer in the game.
When Rice did so, Levandowski kept his promise and buzzed his hair.
“I can’t say it’s what I expected, but I’m not surprised,” Rice said when asked about that kind of big-league fanaticism. “I love it. This is the kind of stuff I like to see, especially a guy who’s walking the talk like that after putting out a tweet like that.”
Rice’s historic seven-RBI showing helped propel the Yankees to their only win during the team’s six-game homestand against Cincinnati and Boston.
In just 18 games played, the Dartmouth product has certainly turned heads throughout the baseball world.
Rice is slashing .273/.359/.545, also flashing his power with seven extra-base hits and 154 weighted created runs plus (where 100 is average).
Beyond damage with the bat, Rice has displayed tremendous plate discipline, chasing only 17.5 percent of pitches and walking 12.5 percent of the time.
Rice’s impact has been critical considering the Yankees’ woes at first base throughout the 2024 season, with Anthony Rizzo struggling mightily prior to fracturing his right arm.
Nonetheless, the Yankees haven’t been buoyed by the arrival of their No. 12 prospect.
The team has lost six of its past seven series, going 6-16 over the past 22 games.
During that window, just five healthy Yankee batters — Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Rice, Trent Grisham and Austin Wells — have hit at an above-average clip, while other regular contributors have gone into a tailspin.
To compound things further, the Yankees’ pitching has also hit a major lull.
The team’s 5.86 ERA since June 13 is the worst in baseball, as is its staff’s 38 home runs surrendered.
As a result, the Yankees have moved from up 2 1/2 games on the Orioles to three games behind the rival for first place in the AL East.
With massive road series against Tampa Bay and Baltimore looming prior to the All-Star break, the Yankees will need to lean on the productivity of Rice if they want to return to title-contending — and head-shaving — form.
