Ben Rice becomes second Yankees draft pick to hit 40 homers in season

Facing the Tampa Bay Rays , the All-Star first baseman opened the scoring in the first inning with his 40th homer of the season. It was a second-deck no-doubter off a first-pitche sinker from Rays starter Mason Englert .

Then he hit another in the fourth inning, putting him in a four-way tie for the AL lead at 41 homers with Pete Alonso , Yordan Álvarez and Junior Caminero .

By reaching 40 homers in a season, Rice has entered rare territory. As MLB.com's Sarah Langs notes , he joins teammate Aaron Judge as the second Yankees draft pick to post a 40-homer season.