Ben Rice has ‘full-circle moment’ with Yankees-Red Sox rivalry debut

It was a full-circle moment for Ben Rice.

The Massachusetts native and lifelong Yankees fan debuted with his dream team June 18, and battled his home-state team, the Red Sox, at Yankee Stadium on Friday night, a series he had eagerly anticipated.

“There will definitely be that tension in the atmosphere and that historic rivalry,” Rice said before Friday’s game. “So it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Rice, who was signed by the Yankees in 2021 as the 363rd overall pick in the draft, got the big-league call up after starting first baseman Anthony Rizzo was placed on the 60-day injured list with a fractured right arm.

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Though he spent his three-year stint in the minors as a catcher, the 25-year-old Rice assumed Rizzo’s position and filled the roster hole immediately.

“I feel like it was a full-circle moment,” Rice said. “Rooting for the team as a little kid, then actually seeing my name pop up on the screen when I was drafted by them, and knowing I was one step closer to getting to the big leagues, it was a great moment, something I’ll never forget.”

The Dartmouth product was moved to the leadoff spot just 15 games into his big-league career, Anthony Volpe moving to the No. 6 slot.

Rice hit his first major league home run — a solo shot to right field — Thursday against the Reds.

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“This is something I’ve always dreamed of since I was a little kid. What’s better than hitting a homer at Yankee Stadium right on the Fourth of July?” he said.

Born and raised in Cohasset, Mass., the Yankees enthusiast — who mentioned he had “always been a huge Derek Jeter fan” — attended several Red Sox games growing up.

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“Any Yankees-Red Sox game at Fenway was a real treat,” the first baseman said. “Those were always the highlights because I felt like I knew every single player. I knew more on the Yankees than on the Red Sox.”

Rice’s family and friends, too, have grown into Yankees fans.

“Any family is a Yankees fan these days, even if we are playing the Red Sox,” Rice said. “Lots of Yankees converters.”

Rice is hitting .290/.389/.484 with five runs scored, three doubles, and four RBIs.

“Just overall, I’ve liked his heartbeat, I’ve liked his look, his calm at the plate,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’ve been pleased with how he’s looked, so hopefully he can be a presence for us in front of Juan [Soto] and Aaron [Judge].”

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