Aaron Judge, Ben Rice Join Yankees Legends in Exclusive History
The New York Yankees came into Monday's game with an American League-best 18-10 record.
There are several reasons for the Yankees' hot start, but the slugfest from Aaron Judge and Ben Rice are a massive part of that.
On Monday against the Texas Rangers, Rice hit a two-run home run in the third inning, and Judge followed it up with a massive solo shot to extend the lead to 3-0.
In doing so, that meant both Judge and Rice hit their 10th home runs of the year, and they came in the same inning.
In doing so, Judge and Rice became only the second pair of Yankees teammates to have 10 or more home runs in the first 29 games of the season, joining Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle, via Sarah Langs.
Yankees teammates with 10+ home runs each in team's first 29 games of a season:
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 28, 2026
2026 Aaron Judge, Ben Rice
1956 Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle https://t.co/jLu8EPTRWM
If that isn't a testament to how well they are playing, then what is?
Rice entered Monday with a .326 average, nine home runs and 21 RBI, while Judge had a .252 average, 10 home runs and 18 RBI.
Here's the back-to-back home runs by the pair on Monday night.
Aaron Judge homers to go back-to-back with Ben Rice! pic.twitter.com/6RF9XKoIQb
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 28, 2026
Jazz Chisholm Jr., who hit fifth on Monday, had a home run in the game, although that's just his third dinger of the season.
Can Ben Rice Continue at This Pace?
By now, we all know what Judge can do. The reigning American League MVP has had 50 or more home runs in three of the last four seasons, and he is well on his way to another 50-home-run season.
Rice, however, is another story.
After playing 50 games in 2024, Rice played 138 last season, hitting .255 with 26 home runs and 65 RBI.
However, 2026 has been a massive start for Rice, and he is exactly the player the Yankees were hoping to have hitting right before Judge in the lineup.
The Yankees also called up Jasson Dominguez and put him in the lineup on Monday, and if he can play well, this lineup has all sorts of potential, especially with Cody Bellinger behind Judge and Trent Grisham (the leadoff hitter) bound to turn it around soon after a .167 start.
Related: Key Ben Rice Stats Show His Beast-Mode Start Isn't a Fluke
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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 10:18 PM.