Ben Rice passes test catching Max Fried in Yankees playoff preview

Ben Rice served as the Yankees' catcher for Max Fried in the second game of the series against the Chicago White Sox, a 8-1 win that offered a potential postseason glimpse. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the arrangement wasn't a formal tryout, but the pairing underscored the club's confidence in Rice's versatility and Fried's comfort with a trusted receiver. Fried worked seven innings, allowing one earned run to earn his 19th win of the season.

The lefthander allowed one earned run over seven innings as Fried earned his 19th win. Rice, a left-handed hitter with an .829 OPS and 24 homers in 457 at-bats, had joined the catching mix as a regular only in recent months. He started behind the plate for the first time in the majors on June 18, and this night marked his 25th game as the Yankees' starting catcher. Rice has spent time at designated hitter and first base, and has made catching more than a sideline responsibility, attending scouting meetings and catching bullpen sessions. It was a chance to pair Rice with Fried in a game that provided practical information for potential postseason deployment. The two appeared in sync as Fried yielded just one run over seven innings. Rice and Fried are still building their rapport, with Rice noting the importance of getting on the same page with a pitcher he doesn’t work with regularly and Fried acknowledging the ongoing adjustment that comes with any new catcher.

Boone said the arrangement wasn't pitched as a postseason audition, but there is potential value in keeping Rice and Fried in the same alignment if the Yankees reach deep into October. Boone pointed to the pair as a test case for the depth chart and left open the possibility of using the arrangement again if the situation arises. The White Sox bullpen game on this night allowed New York to balance the lineup as much as possible, with Paul Goldschmidt at first base, underscoring how the club is weighing its in-season experimentation against playoff readiness.

Rice's broader development has centered on versatility. While he has operated primarily as a designated hitter and first baseman, the catcher role has grown from occasional to more routine. He has attended scouting meetings, caught bullpen sessions, and increasingly embraced the challenge of working with a major league staff behind the plate. His continued progress in this area could give New York more flexibility if the postseason requires multiple catchers or if injuries demand shuffling the roster. Rice's September performance has also added to his value as a left-handed-hitting option capable of contributing in multiple roles.