Slugger Carrying Yankees Through Aaron Judge Cold Spell

Where would the New York Yankees be without their slugger who broke out last season?

Apr 1, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

An Aaron Judge cold streak isn't like any other ball player's slump. While Judge is hitting .125/.160/.375 with a 51 wRC+ and an astanomical 44% strikeout rate in just 34 plate appearances, when he has connected, the ball has gone a long way. Just ask that ambulance in San Francisco, where the great Arson Judge plays, about Judge's power.

Still, watching Judge flail at bad pitches is a version of the three-time MVP that fans and the team alike just aren't used to. Something is off, and for the time being, he'll have to find his footing. Fans will remember how bad he was that first month in 2024, before he eventually took off and won his second MVP.

For that 2024 season, the Yankees had Juan Soto picking up the slack. Soto got off to a torrid start. The same is happening this year, though Soto is over in Flushing.

Jul 13, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (left) greeted by first baseman Ben Rice (right) following his solo home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

This year, Giancarlo Stanton, who is sitting on a five-game multi-hit streak, has been carrying a lot of the offense's load, but he isn't alone. Another 22 has stepped up. That's Ben Rice, who was the 13th-ranked prospect in the Yankees' farm system before being called up in 2024.

So far, in the early portion of the season, Rice has been on base in every game and is coming off back-to-back two-hit days in Seattle. In a season in its infancy, Rice already has three doubles, and his lone homer ended up being a difference maker in Seattle, as the team mounted a comeback in the eighth and ninth innings. His blast is a reason why the Mariners eventually fell short.

Ben Rice is on fire to start 2026 🍚

7-17 (.412)
1 HR
3 2B
4 BB
.524 OBP
.765 SLG
1.289 OPS
266 wRC+ pic.twitter.com/een1omWXzQ

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) April 1, 2026

Last year, when Rice first took off, he ran into a ton of bad luck. The batted-ball data reflected a player whose rockets inconveniently found gloves. With those four extra base hits in six games, the bad luck could be going in the other direction. Balls are falling in, whereas at times last year that wasn't the case.

Granted, there's always room for bad luck in baseball over the course of a 162-game season. Rice is probably hoping for a little less of it.

"Good way to start the year," Rice said, downplaying the strong start, according to the Daily News' Gary Phillips. "Happy to take that momentum back home."

Boone on Judge

Things are a little different for Judge, unfortunately. Boone still obviously believes in his captain and superstar slugger.

"Just early in the season," Boone said, according to Phillips. "It's a small stretch. Even for him, when it's not clicking at a level like we're accustomed to seeing with him all the time, he still had a major impact in two wins offensively, coupled with all the other things he brings to the table on defense and just in here in the dugout. With Judgey, it's always a matter of time before he gets dialed in from a timing standpoint, and off we go."

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