{"id":178965,"date":"2026-04-21T22:40:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=178965"},"modified":"2026-04-21T22:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:40:53","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-it-had-to-be-him-ben-rice-makes-honest-aaron-judge-admission-and-yankees-fans-are-loving-every-word-%f0%9f%91%87-respect-meets-reality-what-rice-said-about-j","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=178965","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 \u201cIT HAD TO BE HIM\u201d: Ben Rice Makes Honest Aaron Judge Admission \u2014 And Yankees Fans Are Loving Every Word \ud83d\udc47 Respect Meets Reality: What Rice Said About Judge Hits Different \u2014 And It Says More Than You Think."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Yankees<\/p>\n

The New York Yankees are coming off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals and have won five of their last seven games. In the process, the offense has been on fire, and part of the offensive explosion has been Yankees first baseman Ben Rice.<\/p>\n

Now, Rice is talking about another explosive bat, Aaron Judge, and the impact the two of them are making, according to SNY Yankees.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels good to hit some homers. He\u2019s always going to be hitting homers,\u201d Rice said of the home run barrage from the two of them.<\/p>\n

The Yankees are third in the majors in home runs this year, hitting 32 as a team in just 22 games. Aaron Judge is currently second in the majors in home runs this year, having nine of them. It is more of the same for Judge, who has hit 53 or more home runs in three of the last four seasons. The only time he did not hit over 50 dingers was in 2023, when he still hit 37 in 106 games. He also broke the American League record for home runs in a season in 2022, launching 62 balls over the outfield fence.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the power is new to the game for Ben Rice. He hit seven long balls in 2024 in 50 games. Last season, it was 26 roundtrippers in 138 games. So far this year, he has eight home runs in just 21 games, placing him tied for third in the majors. If he plays 138 games as he did in 2025, that would put Rice on pace for 53 home runs in 2026.<\/p>\n

The duo is the only duo in baseball with two players in the top ten in home runs in the majors. They are just one of three teams with two players in the top 20 in home runs.<\/p>\n

The Yankees will look to continue their dominant form on Tuesday, when they visit the last-place Boston Red Sox.<\/p>\n

\n

Yankees star\u2019s early home runs spurring Yankees\u2019 starts<\/h2>\n
\"Yankees<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Aaron Judge has gotten off to a nice start in the early going, which has been keyed by starting early.<\/p>\n

Of the Yankees captain\u2019s nine home runs, five have come in the first inning, including his past three long balls. In 22 games, he is 9-for-20 (.450) with a walk, double, eight RBIs and a ridiculous 1.726 OPS in the first inning. Early production often translates to wins; the Yankees 11-3 when scoring first.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New York Yankees are coming off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals and have won five of their last seven games. 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