Yankees Scout Reveals How They Found NHL Fan Turned MLB Rising Star Earning Juan Soto Comparisons

“I was better at hockey for most of my life.” Would you expect these words to come out of a rising MLB star? Well, for one rising star hailing from Massachusetts, baseball wasn’t his first love—it was hockey. Right now, he’s the heart of the New York Yankees. But back then, this young talent lived and breathed the NHL. Of course, he didn’t see the turns coming his way, and now, he’s earning comparisons with one of the biggest names in this league—Juan Soto.

It’s 26-year-old Ben Rice, who was discovered by the Yankees in the wildest possible way. Apparently, he was known for his dominant presence on the rink during his high school years. And he caught the attention of the Yankees scouts Damon Oppenheimer and Matt Hyde, who didn’t waste time locking Rice. Back in 2020, Oppenheimer resided in Malden with his family and his son, who was a preschooler and loved hockey. During that time, Rice, a Dartmouth student, and a couple of his friends had formed a small baseball league somewhere near Northborough.

Oppenheimer informed fellow scout Hyde in advance and began keeping a close eye on Rice to observe his catching abilities. That’s not it—Rice also stunned the scouts as he crushed the opposing college pitchers with his hits. Being absolutely blown away, Oppenheimer remarked, “He hit so many balls into the bushes that you couldn’t find.” Now, this is where it gets even more interesting—the scouts eventually named that league “The Ben Rice League.” Talk about his aura!

It soon became a routine for Hyde and Oppenheimer to go and watch Rice’s game. Wanna know something more interesting? Even then, Rice had no idea he would make his MLB debut in June 2024. But Hyde and Oppenheimer knew the prowess the young 25-year-old possessed. That’s why, despite having a brief experience in the major leagues, Rice is already earning comparisons to the Mets’ $765 million star, Soto. And while Rice dons number 22 for the Yankees, Soto wears the same number for the Mets. Coincidence? Well, maybe!

Except for the value of their contracts, there are many similarities between these two. In fact, Rice was outperforming Soto in April. He hit four home runs in just the first two weeks of April, while Soto hit only one.

Of course, to reach Soto’s level permanently, it will take Rice some time. However, during this stretch of the season, he has given the league a glimpse of his capabilities.

Ben Rice living his prime amidst the Yankees’ injury woes

The New York Yankees have been brutally bitten by the injury bug since the beginning of this season. And their key pitchers like Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil were sidelined before the season even started. Not to mention Giancarlo Stanton, who is still sidelined. However, he is expected to return before the end of the month, according to sources.

As the Yankees’ veterans couldn’t stay off the injured list, the team had to rely on young prospects. And no, they don’t regret it. In fact, the impact Rice’s bat has had on the Yankees’ lineup is truly commendable. He has contributed significantly to helping the Yankees reach the top of the AL East standings.

It’s commonly assumed that it’s just Aaron Judge who is behind the team’s strong hitting. But he can’t really do it all himself. Moreover, players like Austin Wells and Jasson Dominguez haven’t contributed much with their bats. Rice has truly won Yankeeland with his performance. He has eight home runs over 123 plate appearances. He holds a slash line of .255/.358/.557, which is impressive given his brief experience in the major leagues.

Rice is undoubtedly the most beloved player in the Bronx right now, and if he continues to contribute offensively, he will continue to shine.

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