Yankees' Ben Rice surpasses manager Aaron Boone's spring home run forecast

New York Yankees infielder-outfielder Ben Rice hit two home runs in a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, pushing his season total to 41 and moving him past a preseason prediction made by his own manager, according to ESPN.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone had forecast during spring training that Rice would finish the season with 39 home runs. Rice's two-homer game, numbers 40 and 41 on the year, put him two better than that projection with the total now tying him for the American League home run lead.

The performance caps a breakout offensive season for Rice, who has emerged as one of the Yankees' key power threats over the course of the year. Reaching the 40-homer mark is a significant milestone in itself, and doing so while tying for the league lead underscores the scale of his production in 2026.

The Yankees' 9-2 win over the Rays also has broader implications as the regular season winds down, with teams across the American League jockeying for playoff position. A comfortable margin of victory like this one can factor into a team's momentum heading into the postseason.

Rice's home run total will be a storyline to watch over the Yankees' remaining games, both for his individual standing in the league's home run race and for the team's push toward October.