The New York Yankees are ushering in a new era as they open their 2025 season against the Milwaukee Brewers today, March 27, at Yankee Stadium. With Juan Soto now a New York Met after signing a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract in free agency, the Yankees have passed his No. 22 jersey to potential breakout star Ben Rice. Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media reported the change on X, noting, “Ben Rice will wear #22 this season. That’s the number Juan Soto wore last year with the #Yankees.” The move has sparked chatter among fans, with some on X joking that Rice’s new number might “save” Soto jerseys from being burned after his departure to Queens.
Rice, a 26-year-old left-handed slugger, is in the Opening Day lineup as the designated hitter, stepping into a larger role with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined by injury. Stanton’s absence, combined with injuries to pitchers Gerrit Cole (out for the year with Tommy John surgery) and Luis Gil (lat strain), gives Rice a chance to prove himself. The Yankees, coming off a 2024 World Series loss to the Dodgers, are also without Soto’s elite bat—he hit .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs last season, finishing third in AL MVP voting. To bolster the roster, the Yankees added former MVPs Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, along with pitcher Max Fried, but Rice could be a key piece if he capitalizes on his opportunity.
Rice made his MLB debut in 2024, playing 50 games but struggling with a .171/.264/.349 slash line, seven home runs, and six doubles. Despite the rough start, he’s an intriguing prospect with power potential from the left side, a trait the Yankees value given Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch. A lefty who might hit 25 homers elsewhere could push 30-plus in the Bronx, and Rice’s ability to play first base and catch adds versatility. For now, he’s at DH, but with 37-year-old Goldschmidt as the starting first baseman on a one-year, $12.5 million deal, Rice could see time there when Goldschmidt rests. Manager Aaron Boone has shown faith in Rice, who also saw action at first base last year filling in for an injured Anthony Rizzo.
The Yankees are banking on Rice to step up, especially after losing Soto, whose plate discipline and clutch hitting (a .327 postseason average with four homers) were pivotal in their 2024 run. Rice’s power and discipline—he showed both in the minors, hitting 20 homers in 2023 across Double-A and Triple-A—make him a candidate for a breakout, but his .171 average last year raises questions about his readiness. Some fans on X are optimistic, with one user noting Rice’s spring training power (two homers, including a two-run shot against the Phillies), but others wonder if he can handle the pressure of replacing a star like Soto, even symbolically through the jersey number.
Rice’s path to becoming a consistent starter isn’t guaranteed. Goldschmidt, while not a long-term solution, is a proven veteran, and the Yankees’ lineup is stacked with new additions like Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr., who’s set to take over at second base. If Rice can harness his power and adjust to big-league pitching, he might carve out a role as the first baseman of the future. For now, wearing No. 22 is a symbolic fresh start—but it’s up to Rice to prove he can make the number his own in the Bronx.
