In the wake of Anthony Rizzo missing six weeks with an arm fracture, the Yankees are calling up first base prospect Ben Rice to help soften the blow, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Rice, recently called up to Triple-A, has swung a potent bat in the minors so far this season, batting .275 with a .925 OPS and 15 home runs between Triple-A Scranton and Double-A Somerset. In the 11 games he has played in Scranton, he has posted a robust .333 batting average and 1.059 OPS with three home runs.
The 25-year-old is a former 12th-round pick out of Massachusetts, and holds a career .920 OPS in the Yankees minor league system.
Rice won’t have major shoes to fill, as Rizzo struggled for most of the season before his injury. The Yanks could also use DJ LeMahieu at first base and pencil in Oswaldo Cabrera at third.