{"id":678776,"date":"2026-04-19T01:12:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T01:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/678776\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T01:12:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T01:12:52","slug":"yankees-secret-weapon-is-being-paid-less-than-1-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/678776\/","title":{"rendered":"Yankees Secret Weapon Is Being Paid Less Than $1 Million"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"539\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776561164_371_GettyImages-2269819802.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; APRIL 03: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on before the home opener against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 03, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday afternoon, the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"New York Yankees\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/new-york-yankees\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230330\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Yankees<\/a> won their second straight game over the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Kansas City Royals\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/kansas-city-royals\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230338\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Royals<\/a> (at home).<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Ben Rice\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/benjamin-rice\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230339\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Rice<\/a> finished the 13-4 victory with one home run and two walks in three at-bats.<\/p>\n<p>Yankees Player Is Being Paid Less Than $1M<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5917632\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5917632\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2269438774.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5917632\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyBen Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates as he touches home plate on a three run home run by <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Paul Goldschmidt\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/paul-goldschmidt\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230340\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Goldschmidt<\/a> #48 of the New York Yankees against the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Seattle Mariners\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/seattle-mariners\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230331\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Mariners<\/a> during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park on April 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n<p>Rice is in his third <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"MLB\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230332\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MLB<\/a> season (all with the Yankees).<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that the 27-year-old is being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/73603\/ben-rice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">paid<\/a> $845,800 this season.<\/p>\n<p>Based on other MLB players, Rice is on one of the best contracts in the entire league.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/mlb\/new-york-yankees\/cash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Spotrac<\/a>, he is also the second-lowest-paid hitter on the entire Yankees roster.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5917629\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5917629\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271855108.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5917629\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyBen Rice #22 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Rice\u2019s MLB Career<\/p>\n<p>Rice was picked in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.<\/p>\n<p>After appearing in 50 games as a rookie, he played 138 for the Yankees last season.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, he is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/mlb\/ask\/ben-rice-stats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">batting<\/a> .339 with 21 hits, seven home runs, 17 RBI\u2019s and 19 runs in his first 20 games.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BryanHoch\/status\/2045568537134026780\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Bryan Hoch of MLB.com wrote (during Saturday\u2019s game):<\/a> \u201cToo early to say Ben Rice should be an All-Star? He sends his 7th HR into the second deck in right field. (Off a lefty, too.) Yankees lead, 5-0.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5917627\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5917627\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2271851484.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5917627\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyBen Rice #22 of the New York Yankees crosses home plate following his two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Over 208 career games, Rice is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/mlb\/ask\/ben-rice-stats-career\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">batting<\/a> .244 with 166 hits, 40 home runs, 105 RBI\u2019s and 113 runs.<\/p>\n<p>He will be one of the most intriguing players to watch the rest of the season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/statmuse\/status\/2045318621929304298\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">StatMuse wrote (on April 17):<\/a> \u201cBen Rice ranks on the Yankees this season: 1st in RBI 1st in AVG 1st in OBP 1st in SLG 1st in OPS 1st in wRC+ He\u2019s one of only two qualified hitters with a .325 AVG and 1.200 OPS this season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5905577\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5905577\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2239044427.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5905577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyBen Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts during game two of the American League Wild Card Series against the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Boston Red Sox\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/mlb\/boston-red-sox\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230346\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Red Sox<\/a> at Yankee Stadium on October 1, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Yankees Right Now<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Rice, <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Cody Bellinger\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/mlb\/player\/cody-bellinger\/\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"230347\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cody Bellinger<\/a> also had a big game with three hits (and two home runs).<\/p>\n<p>The Yankees improved to 12-9 in 21 games, which has them as the second-place team in the American League East.<\/p>\n<p>They are 7-5 in 12 games in the Bronx.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/benstinarheavy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Stinar<\/a> Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years.\u00a0&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nHe has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/benstinarheavy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Ben Stinar<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Yankees\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty NEW YORK, NEW YORK &#8211; APRIL 03: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":678777,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2376],"tags":[5,4,1690,62,2548,2547,142],"class_list":{"0":"post-678776","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york-yankees","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-mlb","10":"tag-new-york","11":"tag-new-york-yankees","12":"tag-newyork","13":"tag-newyorkyankees","14":"tag-yankees"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116428722489949782","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=678776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678776\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/678777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=678776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=678776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=678776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}