It was refreshing to see Clark Schmidt back on the pitcher’s mound as the crafty pitcher made his debut this past Wednesday for the New York Yankees.
After coming off the injured list with right shoulder fatigue, he had a great first start, pitching 5 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and a 1.059 WHIP.
More importantly, the New York Yankees swept the Kansas City Royals 4-3.
As for help with the hitting aspect, the bats have been swinging, and the runs have been scoring. There have been two players who have highlighted the success that have been flying under the radar.
Those two players are none other than Trent Grisham and Ben Rice.
Let’s take a look at these improbable stars and how they go about their business without egos to show their batting skills.
Grisham has always been a quiet killer for the New York Yankees and their offense.
Last season, he was prepared for anything that came his way, whether he was on the bench, pinch-hitting, or being penciled into the starting lineup.
So far this year, he’s been hitting like an AL all-star candidate, batting .308 with a 1.027 OPS. He has also smacked four home runs and 10 RBIs.
At age 28, Grisham is far from being past his prime. In fact, his prime days are still ahead of him, thanks to maintaining his body in top condition and being prepared for anything thrown his way.
While Grishan is a firm lefty batter, he can hit against both righties and lefties, making him a tough outing so far for all opposing pitchers.
Grisham has also been experimenting with his stance at the plate. At the beginning of 2024, the center-fielder’s stance was closed off by two degrees; now, this season, his stance is 21 degrees wider.
Grisham knows that when you come to the Yankees, you have to be a power hitter with the ability to mix in solid contact. To make that adjustment, Grisham knew that he needed to fix his stance at the plate, and he did so with excellence.
It’s very apparent that Grisham now fits the mold of being a true Bronx Bomber.
The other rising Bronx Bomber slugger is young Ben Rice. A former prospect turned full-time Yankee who can already hit a ball at an exit velocity equivalent to wily New York Mets veteran Pete Alonso.
Rice made his MLB debut in 2024, cracking seven long balls, but only batting a mere .179. He also earned more hitting opportunities this season, and the lefty came to spring training hitting with a bang.
The 26-year-old hit five home runs during the spring, along with an OPS of .835. Giving manager Aaron Boone no choice but to put him on the opening day roster.
From them on, he impressed both the team and crowd, becoming the Bombers’ new lead-off batter.
With Paul Goldschmidt a lock at first base and (DH) Giancarlo Stanton on IR, that opens the door for Rice to be designated for the DH position.
Rice has batted a much-improved .273 with a 1.003 OPS and five home runs. The rookie also ranks in the 100th percentile in average exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate.
These are numbers typical of Aaron Judge or Alonso, players who have been in the league for a while and are on track to be Hall of Fame-bound.
The fact that Rice is in the highest percentile with players like them already, in his first full season with the Yankees, proves he can be the next homegrown Yankee Superstar.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the utility player earned a big payday and possibly make the Hall of Fame years after his career’s over.
It’s still early in both Grisham and Rice’s careers, however, what’s impressive about these two athletes is their ability to be both quiet and humble, recognizing their abilities, and keeping their egos in check. They can both play many positions and are confident, not cocky, in their abilities to be successful.
Let’s see if their quality play continues and if they remain quiet by nature when facing adversity and in strikeout slumps. It happens to all players, and in a sport like baseball, it is the “Law of Average.”
For more on all things sports: What Could Possibly Happen To Buffalo Bills’ RB James Cook In Upcoming NFL Draft?
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