Ben Rice has joined one of the most exclusive power-hitting groups in New York Yankees history — and set a particularly unusual franchise mark in the process.
Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs of the 2026 season against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 23, becoming only the second player ever drafted by the Yankees to hit at least 40 home runs in a season for New York.
The only other Yankees draft pick to accomplish it is Aaron Judge.
Rice also became just the third Yankees player to reach 40 homers within his first three major league seasons, joining Joe DiMaggio and Judge. His two-homer game gave him 41 for the season and moved him into a tie for the American League home-run lead.
What Record Did Ben Rice Set?
Rice became only the second Yankees draft pick to hit 40 home runs in a season for the Yankees.
New York selected Rice in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft with the 363rd overall pick. Before Rice, Aaron Judge was the only player drafted by the Yankees who later produced a 40-homer season in pinstripes. [Yahoo Sports]
| Yankees Draft Pick | 40-Homer Season? |
|---|---|
| Aaron Judge | Yes — multiple times |
| Ben Rice | Yes — 2026 |
The statistic does not mean only two homegrown Yankees have ever hit 40 home runs. Several of the franchise’s greatest stars joined the organization before Major League Baseball instituted its amateur draft in 1965.
That includes players such as Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, who were signed by the Yankees rather than selected in a draft. Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Juan Soto are among other 40-homer Yankees who arrived through trades, purchases or free agency. [Yahoo Sports]
How Did Ben Rice Hit His 40th Home Run?
Rice did not waste any time reaching the milestone against Tampa Bay.
Leading off the bottom of the first inning at Yankee Stadium, Rice attacked the first pitch he saw from Rays starter Mason Englert and drove it into the right-field second deck.
The solo shot was his 40th home run of the year and gave New York an immediate 1-0 lead. [MLB]
Rice then homered again in the fourth inning, giving him No. 41.
He finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk as the Yankees defeated the Rays 9-2. [AP]
How Many Home Runs Does Ben Rice Have?
Following his two-homer game against Tampa Bay, Rice had 41 home runs through 151 games in the 2026 season.
He was batting .263 with 97 RBIs and an .899 OPS. His 41 homers placed him in a tie for the American League lead with Pete Alonso, Junior Caminero and Yordan Alvarez. [AP via FOX Sports]
| Statistic | Ben Rice Through Sept. 23 |
|---|---|
| Games | 151 |
| Home Runs | 41 |
| RBIs | 97 |
| Batting Average | .263 |
| OPS | .899 |
How Rare Is A 40-Homer Season For The Yankees?
Rice became the 13th different Yankees player to hit at least 40 home runs in a season.
His 2026 performance represents the 36th 40-homer season in Yankees franchise history, with players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Aaron Judge accounting for multiple entries on that list. [MLB]
The Yankees players who have produced at least one 40-homer season include:
- Aaron Judge
- Roger Maris
- Babe Ruth
- Mickey Mantle
- Alex Rodriguez
- Lou Gehrig
- Joe DiMaggio
- Tino Martinez
- Curtis Granderson
- Jason Giambi
- Reggie Jackson
- Juan Soto
- Ben Rice
Rice’s accomplishment is especially unusual because he reached the mark so early in his major league career. [Yahoo Sports]
What Other Yankees Record Did Ben Rice Tie?
Rice became only the third Yankee to hit at least 40 home runs within his first three major league seasons.
The other two are Joe DiMaggio and Aaron Judge. [AP via FOX Sports]
| Player | 40+ HR Within First Three MLB Seasons |
|---|---|
| Joe DiMaggio | Yes |
| Aaron Judge | Yes |
| Ben Rice | Yes — 2026 |
Rice debuted in June 2024, meaning his 2026 breakout came during only his third major league season.
What Did Ben Rice Say About Hitting 40 Home Runs?
Rice described 40 homers as a milestone he began thinking about as he moved closer to it late in the season.
“It’s a cool milestone.”
Rice explained that 40 was not necessarily a number he expected to chase when the season began, but it became a target once it was within reach. [New York Post via Yahoo Sports]
The milestone also completed a season-long joke between Rice and Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Why Did Aaron Boone Predict Ben Rice Would Hit 39 Home Runs?
During spring training, Boone predicted that Rice would hit exactly 39 home runs in 2026.
Boone later explained that he intentionally chose a number just below 40 because he expected Rice to have a big season and wanted to challenge him.
After Rice hit No. 40 against Tampa Bay, he pointed toward Boone while returning to the dugout. After No. 41, Rice joked that the manager had inspired him to get there. [AP via FOX Sports]
How Big Was Ben Rice’s Jump From 2025 To 2026?
Rice’s emergence as a 40-homer hitter represented another substantial step forward in each of his first three major league seasons.
| Season | Games | Home Runs | RBIs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50 | 7 | 23 | .171 |
| 2025 | 138 | 26 | 65 | .255 |
| 2026* | 151 | 41 | 97 | .263 |
*2026 statistics through September 23.
Rice hit just .171 during his 50-game debut in 2024 before emerging as a productive major league hitter with 26 homers in 2025. His home-run total then jumped by another 15 through September 23, 2026. [AP via FOX Sports]
Was Ben Rice An All-Star In 2026?
Yes. Rice became a first-time All-Star during his breakout 2026 season.
By late September, he also led the Yankees with 97 RBIs and an .899 OPS while spending much of the season as either the designated hitter or first baseman. [AP via FOX Sports]
Rice’s production became particularly important while established Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton missed significant time.
Is Ben Rice A Catcher Or First Baseman?
Rice came through the Yankees’ minor league system primarily as a catcher while also playing first base.
His role has changed significantly in the majors. In 2026, New York has primarily used Rice at designated hitter and first base. Through his 40-homer game, he had appeared in 93 games as a designated hitter and 52 at first base. [AP via FOX Sports]
That means Rice’s 41 homers should not be described as the Yankees’ single-season record for a catcher.
Gary Sánchez holds the Yankees record for home runs hit while actually serving as the team’s catcher in a season, with 34 in 2019. Rice’s positional eligibility in some fantasy baseball formats does not make all of his 2026 home runs catcher home runs. [NBC Sports]
Where Was Ben Rice Drafted?
The Yankees selected Rice out of Dartmouth in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, 363rd overall.
His college career was unusually short. Rice played only 30 games at Dartmouth over three years, in part because the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the Ivy League’s 2021 baseball season. [MLB]
He reached the major leagues less than three years after being drafted, debuting for New York on June 18, 2024.
Did Ben Rice Already Hold A Yankees Rookie Record?
Yes.
Rice made history less than a month after reaching the majors in 2024 when he hit three home runs against the Boston Red Sox on July 6.
He became the first rookie in Yankees history to hit three home runs in one game. Rice also drove in seven runs, tying Lou Gehrig’s franchise rookie record for RBIs in a game. [AP via FOX Sports]
The performance was an early indication of the power that would eventually produce his 40-homer breakout two seasons later.
How Important Has Ben Rice Been To The Yankees In 2026?
Rice has become one of the central hitters in the Yankees lineup.
Through September 23, he had 16 go-ahead home runs and three game-tying homers. Judge praised Rice’s consistency and preparation after his 40-homer night, describing the improvement he has made as a hitter since reaching the majors. [AP via FOX Sports]
Rice’s production also helped New York secure a postseason berth despite extended injuries elsewhere in the lineup.
Could Ben Rice Win The American League Home Run Title?
Yes. Entering September 24, Rice’s 41 home runs had him tied for the American League lead with Pete Alonso, Junior Caminero and Yordan Alvarez. [AP]
With games still remaining on the Yankees’ regular-season schedule, the final home-run title had not yet been decided.
Rice was also three RBIs away from reaching 100 for the first time in his career.
Ben Rice 40-Home Run Record FAQ
What record did Ben Rice set?
Rice became only the second player drafted by the Yankees to later hit at least 40 home runs in a season for New York. Aaron Judge was the first. [Yahoo Sports]
How many home runs does Ben Rice have in 2026?
Rice had 41 home runs through September 23 after hitting Nos. 40 and 41 against the Tampa Bay Rays. [MLB]
Who was the first Yankees draft pick to hit 40 home runs?
Aaron Judge was the first. Rice became the second in 2026.
How many Yankees have hit 40 home runs in a season?
Rice became the 13th different Yankee to reach the mark. His season was the 36th instance of a Yankees player hitting at least 40 home runs. [MLB]
Who are the Yankees to hit 40 homers in their first three seasons?
Joe DiMaggio, Aaron Judge and Ben Rice are the only Yankees to reach 40 home runs in a season within their first three major league seasons. [AP via FOX Sports]
Where was Ben Rice drafted?
The Yankees selected Rice in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft with the 363rd overall pick. [MLB]
Did Aaron Boone predict Ben Rice would hit 40 home runs?
Almost. Boone predicted during spring training that Rice would hit 39. Rice surpassed the prediction by hitting his 40th and 41st homers in the same September game. [AP via FOX Sports]
