When the Yankees used the 361st overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft on little-known Dartmouth catcher Ben Rice , I don’t know if they envisioned an elite left-handed slugger as the outcome.

No one believed his median outcome was even making it to the Major Leagues, as misfortune and injuries continued to eat into any playing time he could get

He missed two years of college baseball due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Ivy League schools also closed down their sports schedule for the 2021 season.

When he opened his age-24 season, Rice was still in Single-A, there were plenty of signs that he wouldn’t become a big leaguer, and yet he’s been one of the most productive hitters in baseball.

Sporting a wRC+ in the top 25 among qualified hitters and one of the best hitting profiles in the game, Be

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