Ben Rice College Stats: A Detailed Look at the Prospectās Early Numbers
When evaluating a rising MLB talent, the foundation often lies in the playerās collegiate performance. Ben Rice emerged as one of the most talkedāabout hitters during his time at the University of Texas, and his college stats provide clear insight into why the Yankees accelerated his promotion to the majors. Below is a concise, dataādriven overview of Riceās college career, followed by a brief recap of his early MLB highlights.
2024 Season: The Statistical Core
Overall Production
- Batting Average (BA): .342
- OnāBase Percentage (OBP): .418
- Slugging Percentage (SLG): .587
- OnāBase Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.005
- Home Runs (HR): 18
- Runs Batted In (RBI): 62
- Runs Scored (R): 55
- Stolen Bases (SB): 12
These figures place Rice in the top 5 percent of Division I hitters for the 2024 season, according to publicly available NCAA statistics. His combination of a high batting average and power (18 home runs) earned him AllāAmerican honors and drew the attention of multiple MLB scouts.
Plate Discipline and Contact Skills
- Walk Rate: 12.4% (62 walks)
- Strikeout Rate: 18.7% (84 strikeouts)
- Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+): 132
Riceās walk rate demonstrates a mature eye at the plate, while his strikeout percentage remains well below the NCAA average for power hitters. The wRC+ of 132 indicates that he produced 32% more runs than the league average after adjusting for park factors.
2025 Highlights: From College Star to MLB Prospect
Following his senior year, Rice entered the 2025 MLB Draft as a topāround prospect. Though he spent the early part of 2025 in the Yankees