Ben Rice’s first stint with the Yankees has ended.
With Anthony Rizzo set to return from his rehab assignment, the Yankees optioned the rookie first baseman to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following their 6-5 loss to the Cardinals on Saturday.
The 25-year-old made his MLB debut on June 18 against the Orioles and launched three homers on July 5 in his signature Yankees moment, but outside of that day, Rice struggled at the plate.
He hit .174 with a .356 slugging percentage and a .624 OPS, and since that three-homer day, when he helped a sputtering offense erupt for 14 runs against the Red Sox, Rice collected a .112 average and .443 OPS with just three homers.
His most recent start occurred Friday, when he went 0-for-3 during the Yankees’ win against the Cardinals.
He entered Saturday’s game to run for Giancarlo Stanton following the pinch-hitter’s bases-clearing double in the eighth.
Still, though, Rice remains a piece of the Yankees’ future, especially with Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu both aging veterans.
He was the Yankees’ No. 12 prospect at the time of his call-up, and he collected a .275 average — including a .333 clip with Scranton — during cameos in Double-A and Triple-A this year.
Rizzo has been out since June with a fractured arm and struggled at the plate prior to the injury, but manager Aaron Boone said following the Yankees’ loss that he’ll “likely” return Sunday.
He wasn’t in the lineup for Double-A Somerset — the minor-league affiliate he has played for during the rehab assignment — for their game Saturday.
Pitcher Will Warren, who started Saturday’s game and allowed four runs and five hits across four innings in his latest rocky start, was also optioned to Triple-A following the game.
