The New York Yankees, looking for a fix after losing Anthony Rizzo to injury, have called up prospect Ben Rice to play first base, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney on Tuesday.
Rizzo is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a fracture to the radial neck of his right arm in a collision with Boston Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino while running out a ground ball Sunday night.
Rice, a 12th-round pick from Dartmouth in the 2021 draft who is 25, has put up big numbers in the minors. He batted .324 across three levels in 2023, with 18 doubles and 20 homers in 73 games. This season, Rice has hit .275 with a .925 OPS and 15 home runs between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. In his 11 games since being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he has batted .333, with a .619 slugging percentage.
Other options for the Yankees at first base include possibly moving DJ LeMahieu from third base to first and having Oswaldo Cabrera play third.
Rizzo, 34, has posted his worst numbers as a big leaguer this season, batting .223 with a .630 OPS in 69 games.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.