TAMPA — Ben Rice was forced to stop cooking Saturday.
The Yankees’ red-hot designated hitter had to leave their game against the Rays shortly after he was hit on the left elbow by an 88 mph slider in the top of the fourth inning.
Rice was in obvious pain and was tended to by manager Aaron Boone and a trainer, but stayed in to run the bases.
Ben Rice reacts after getting hit by a pitch during the Yankees’ game April 19.Screengrab via X/@TalkinYanksHe sustained a left elbow contusion and went to a local hospital for X-rays — which came back negative — and a CT scan.
Rice was hit by two pitches on Saturday and came around to score both times.
Ben Rice gets hit by a pitch during the Yankees’ game April 19.Screengrab via X/@TalkinYanks
He was batting .292 with a 1.003 OPS, emerging as a semi-regular leadoff hitter and a big left-handed bat to help the Yankees survive the injury absence of Giancarlo Stanton.
