Ben Rice’s All-Star Hopes Fall Short, But His Star Is Still Rising

Man, this one stings a little if you're a Yankees fan or just someone rooting for the underdog. Ben Rice — the Yankees' promising designated hitter — won't be making his All-Star debut this year. Neither will veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, despite their strong performances leading up to the All-Star voting's second phase. It’s a reminder of just how brutal — and competitive — this process can be, even when you’ve earned your shot.

Let’s start with Ben Rice. A first-time All-Star candidate, Rice exploded onto the scene early in the season. Back in April, he was one of the most dangerous hitters in the league, posting a staggering 168 wRC+. He was hitting the ball hard, getting on base, slugging — the works. People were taking notice. But as often happens in baseball, the momentum didn’t last. May brought a small dip in production, and June? That was rough. His numbers cooled to an 83 wRC+, and the timing couldn’t have been worse — just as fan voting started to intensify.

Rice ended up going head-to-head with Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn in Phase 2. O’Hearn has been one of the few bright spots on an underperforming Orioles team, slashing .295/.383/.471 with a robust 144 wRC+. Voters rewarded that consistency and perhaps the experience that comes with it. O’Hearn captured a whopping 78% of the vote, leaving Rice with just 22%.

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Then there’s Paul Goldschmidt. He’s not new to the All-Star scene — this would’ve been his eighth nod. At 37, he’s showing he’s still got it, bouncing back impressively after a down year with the Cardinals. But his opponent? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Yeah… tough matchup. Vladdy’s not just a fan favorite — he’s still producing, and that matters. With a 134 wRC+ and strong metrics all around, Guerrero easily won the vote, taking 75% to Goldy’s 25%.

Now, some might say it’s unfair — and I get it. Goldschmidt and Rice have both helped keep the Yankees atop the AL East. They’ve contributed consistently and have been pivotal in some key wins. But popularity, timing, and recent performance weigh heavily in All-Star voting, and both players ran into that buzzsaw.

Still, it’s not over yet. The All-Star reserves and pitchers will be announced this Sunday. There’s still a glimmer of hope that Rice and Goldschmidt get the nod via the players’ ballot or coaching staff selections. Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are also likely to represent the Yankees alongside Aaron Judge, who’s already locked in as a starter.

For Ben Rice, this isn’t a failure. It’s a stepping stone. His first half was good enough to get him this close, and that’s no small feat. He’s on the radar now — not just in New York, but across the league. If he can regain that early-season form, there’s no doubt he’ll be back in the conversation next year… maybe as a lock.

Baseball’s a grind, and this is just one more chapter in what could be a really exciting story for Rice and this Yankees squad.

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