Most overlooked development of Yankees spring training involves Ben Rice

While guys like Will Warren and George Lombard Jr. have been the talk of New York Yankees spring training for their encouraging development, Ben Rice also deserves some love in that regard.

Forget about Rice's potent bat (which landed him a Silver Slugger nomination in 2025); how about Rice's slick glove at first base of late?

Rice has looked like a vacuum cleaner at first this spring, making multiple head-turning scoops, including a highly difficult one on Monday off a short throw from Lombard.

Ben Rice is looking like a Gold Glove first baseman this spring with Yankees

Rice is making these plays look easy, convincing Yankees fans that his star power, already demonstrated with a bat in his hands, might extend to nifty glove work in 2026.