The New York Yankees once again failed to meet their championship-or-bust expectations in the 2025 campaign, which means they will be hard at work over the offseason when it comes to finding ways to upgrade their roster for the 2026 season. And yet, while the team didn’t meet expectations, several players turned in stellar individual campaigns that earned them some awards recently.
With the Silver Slugger Award winners recently being announced, it was revealed that both Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. were the American League winners for their respective positions. However, Yankees fans were quick to note that Ben Rice did not win one of the Awards, which quickly drew their ire on social media.
Yankees Fans Not Happy with Ben Rice’s Silver Slugger Snub
Not only did two Yankees players win Silver Slugger Awards, but the team was awarded the Silver Slugger Team Award as well. New York’s batters spent all season mashing opposing pitching, as they had seven players who hit 20+ home runs, with another (Anthony Volpe) coming up just one short of hitting the 20-homer mark.
One guy who was part of that group was Ben Rice. In his first full season in the majors, Rice hit .255 with 26 home runs and 65 RBIs, and he quickly proved himself to be a key piece of the team’s future. In 2025, Rice spent time playing first base, catcher, and designated hitter, meaning he qualified for the utility position in the Silver Slugger voting.
Rice ended up getting beaten out by Zach McKinstry of the Detroit Tigers, and of all the results, this may just be the most controversial of the bunch. While McKinstry had a solid season, his numbers (.259 BA, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 19 SB, .771 OPS) don’t really stack up to Rice’s. As a result, Fans flocked to social media after Rice’s snub to voice their displeasure with McKinstry’s win.
Should Ben Rice Have Won the Silver Slugger Award Over Zach McKinstry?
GettyYankees fans believe that Ben Rice was robbed of winning a Silver Slugger Award
When comparing Rice and McKinstry’s numbers at the plate, it’s tough to justify the Yankees’ young star losing out on this award. Rice was simply the better all-around hitter, and while he may not be as much of a utility player as McKinstry is, at the end of the day, the requirements for being a utility player are pretty lenient nowadays. When ignoring the potential position requirements, it’s clear that Rice had a better season at the plate than McKinstry.
Not much can be done to change the result, though, and if Rice keeps on improving, he will surely add a Silver Slugger Award to his trophy cabinet before his career is over. New York’s main concern is going to be on finding a way to upgrade its roster after a disappointing 2025 campaign, and after his strong season, Rice proved himself to be a key piece of the team’s future plans. At the end of the day, that is more important than earning a Silver Slugger Award.
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