What Aaron Judge and Ben Rice, Yankees’ new dynamic duo, think of each other
· Yahoo Sports
ARLINGTON, Texas — Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle didn’t start out in 1961 by hitting home runs like Aaron Judge and Ben Rice have so far this year.
Neither did Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig when they were mashing for a team that has been called the greatest ever, the 1927 Yankees.
Visit casino-promo.biz for more information.
These Yankees have completed only 29 of 162 games, but Rice and Judge are the majors’ new Batman & Robin home run duo.
In Monday night’s 4-2 Yankees win over the Rangers, Rice hit his 10th of the season in the third inning with a man on, then Judge came up next and hit his 11th.
For Tuesday night’s clash versus the Rangers, Yankees moneyline is listed at -120 on FanDuel. Our complete FanDuel Sportsbook review provides an in-depth guide on how to use their platform.
After returning to the dugout after his homer, Judge called out, “I’m not gonna let Benny catch me.”
This is only the second time in franchise history that two Yankees have reached double-figure homers through 29 games, joining Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle in 1956.
Rice smiled upon hearing that.
“Pretty cool,” he said. “I definitely would not have anticipated something like that, but obviously, the three names I’m surrounded with there are pretty big ones, so it’s definitely very humbling.”
Judge has won three AL MVPs, including two in a row, but Rice is an early favorite this year with top 5 league stats in hitting (.322), homers (10), RBIs (23), walks (21), on-base percentage (.447), slugging (.744) and OPS (1.191).
“I’m trying to keep (Judge) honest, keep him motivated,” Rice joked. “He’s getting a little complacent!”
Rice hit 26 homers in 2025, his first full season in the majors. He was asked whether he had 60 in him this year to keep up with Judge, who hit an AL record 62 in 2022 and has topped 50 three other times.
“I don’t know how long this is gonna last, but I’m enjoying it right now being this close,” Rice said with another grin.
The Yankees are sure this is no fluke, and they can point to Rice’s home run in Monday’s game.
The left-center power alley is 372 feet from home plate at Globe Life Field. That’s a long poke for a left-handed hitter, but Rice cleared it with ease, lining a 404-foot, opposite-field blast that put the Yankees ahead 2-0.
“Man, that ball was pummeled,” manager Aaron Boone said. “This is a ballpark, they’ll tell you it doesn’t yield a lot of home runs and to hit a line drive into the bullpen there the other way, impressive.
“The only thing more impressive was the 1 to 12 breaking ball that Judge rifled into the seats right after him. So it’s a little bit of a hold your beer moment.”
Back to Rice …
“Just consistent at-bat after consistent at-bat,” Judge said. “It’s must-watch TV at this point. He steps up to the plate, it doesn’t matter: Nobody’s on, guy on, tough situation. He’s gonna put something in play hard, or he’s gonna take his walk and pass the baton.
“It’s just impressive to watch, and I get a front row seat hitting right behind him now. It makes my job easy when he does that.”
And vice versa for Rice, who has been hitting second, with the right-handed Judge batting third for three games in a row.. Earlier this season, Judge often was in his usual two-hole with Rice hitting third or fourth.
“I enjoy hitting in the order with him, whether I’m in front of him or behind him,” Rice said. “I think there’s different scenarios, different pitchers that either way works, so anytime I can be near him in the lineup is a good one.”
Judge is hitting only .252 after winning the AL batting title with a career-best .331 last year, but he’s heating up, batting .294 with eight homers and 12 RBIs over his last 15 games.
“I think we’re seeing him at his floor right now, which is just kind of crazy,” Rice said of Judge. “But he’s looked so good. His approach is always so great. Obviously, the power is always there. And he’s our leader. He’s the captain.”
Judge reached base in all four plate appearances Monday, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a homer and a hit by pitch.
“I’ve just come to accept that he’s different than everyone else,” Boone said. “He’s playing a different game is the way I’ve said it, and I mean it.
“Yeah, he’s been alright, and he’s probably got a 1,000 OPS and on pace for another 50, 60, 70 homers, whatever.”
The Yankees figure that Judge is going to get really hot at some point and stay that way for a month, then do it a couple more times because he has runs like that every season.
“I feel like I’ve been on a big stretch all year,” Judge said with sarcasm. “I’m kidding! We’re winning ballgames, which is the most important thing, and it’s just about showing up every day trying to put the work in.
“Good stretches will come. It’s baseball. You’re gonna have a good couple weeks, couple months. You’re gonna have some bad stretches. But it’s just about showing up and not getting too down when it’s not going your way.”
Judge’s numbers thus far are only down a little by his superstar standards.
Boone was right, by the way: Judge’s OPS is 1.010.
Also, his 11 homers, which are one behind the White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami for the MLB lead, have him on pace for 61 home runs.
“You’re talking about the best player in baseball,” Yankees pitcher Max Fried said after shutting out the Rangers for six innings. “He can change a game with one swing, but also he understands the moment, understands the game.
“He’ll take his walk if they’re not throwing to him. But if they leave one over the middle, he’s going to make them pay.”
Rice’s star keeps rising, too.
“I’m not surprised by Ben anymore,” Fried said. “He’s been working really hard and the hitter that he’s become has been really fun to watch. He’s right up there with some of the best hitters in baseball.”
Rice’s 2025 breakout would have been better if he weren’t so unlucky. While being in the top 95 percentile for exit velocity, he hit just .255 because so many of his hard-hit balls were outs.
This year, Rice has been finding holes.
“It definitely helps, but if you keep focusing on the process, those things will take care of itself,” Rice said. “So just go up there keep trying to hit the ball hard and good at-bats.”
Home runs address a hitter’s bad luck, too.
“There are no fielders over the fence,” he said.
A month into the season, Judge and Rice have been the best righty/lefty slugging duo in the majors. They won’t be the next Willie Mays and Willie McCovey unless Rice keeps it up, but they might be just as good as Juan Soto and Judge were together in 2024, their one season as teammates.
“Obviously Benny’s off to an amazing start,” Boone said. “Judge, ho hum, 11 homers already. Yeah, it’s a pretty good combo there!”
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.