"In my childhood bedroom, there's still a Derek Jeter poster" - Ben Rice shares his lifelong love for Yankees following record-setting 3-HR game
New York Yankees rookie Ben Rice has been having the time of his life with his team in the MLB. After starting the 2024 season in the minors, he was promoted to the majors on July 18 to cover for veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who is on the IL due to a fractured forearm.
Rice has been a Yankee fan ever since his childhood with his favorite player being Derek Jeter. Discussing on the "Foul Territory" podcast, he said:
"In my childhood bedroom, there's still a Derek Jeter poster. And it’s right next to the Yankees jersey that I wore in that first grade picture day.”
Rice recently accomplished a milestone not achieved by any Yankee rookie before him. During the Bronx Bombers' 14-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, he hit three homers, contributing significantly to the team's remarkable win.
After hitting his third home run in the seventh inning, Rice was thrilled about his performance but unsure about what to do for his first curtain call at Yankee Stadium. After high-fiving his teammates, he had to quickly go to the other end of the dugout for his curtain call:
“I know what a curtain call is. I just didn’t know that, that’s what they were trying to get me to do. I think I was still just kind of. [you had blacked out at that point] Oh 100 percent. I’m happy with how I dealt with it, it was cool,” Ben Rice said.
Ben Rice thrilled by unforgettable achievement and team's important win
Ben Rice recorded three hits on five at-bats, bringing in seven RBIs for his team. In a post-game interview, Rice said (via MLB.com):
“It’s definitely a day I’ll never forget. I’m just pumped that it was a big-time win for us, a good bounceback win, and over my hometown team. So it’s pretty cool.”
After their stellar victory on Saturday, the New York Yankees lost 3-0 to the Red Sox on Sunday, losing the three-game series 2-1. The Bronx Bombers will start their next three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday.