New York Yankees thunderous wunderkind Ben Rice needs to play every day, whether or not Giancarlo Stanton is healthy enough to perma-DH. Wildly enough, though, the Yankees’ two hottest hitters might both occupy the same primary position these days.

Rice mashed the deadlock-breaking home run in the seventh inning Wednesday, helping the Yankees to salvage a series that felt like it was swiftly headed to the depths of the toilet. Filling in the DH role during Stanton’s absence, Rice’s .306 average and 212 OPS+ have turned his Savant page redder than Curt Schilling’s ketchup-y ankle. Truly, it’s been incredible to watch. He’s satisfied the Yankees’ every need, using his increased bulk to add critical exit velocity, which has helped him reach gaps on would-be hard lineouts, as well as torpedo baseballs two decks over the porch.

And yet, while Rice has rightly earned the New York Post back covers, it’s a testament to one of the Yankees’ steadiest veterans that his similar mashing has gone almost completely unnoticed. Maybe we all took it for granted that Paul Goldschmidt would be rock solid after his tantalizing 2024 second half. Or maybe we’re just obsessed with homegrown talent.

Regardless, Goldschmidt’s road trip was spectacular; he paired elite defensive first base play with five multi-hit games in a six-game voyage. Overall, he finished the trip (which the Yankees ended at 3-3) going 13-for-27 (.481) with a pair of doubles. You might not have noticed, considering Goldy only knocked in a single run, but that occurred through no fault of his own. His teammates’ failings (and Rice’s rampage) obscured the reality that he’s also fit right into the pinstripes.

New York Yankees first basemen Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice both dominating on recent road trip

Of the Yankees’ offseason additions, Max Fried and Cody Bellinger may have stolen the headlines by making graceful history and eating bad wings, but Goldschmidt has steadily produced since a late spring back hiccup, expertly spraying the ball from line to line and gap to gap without interruption.

The 2025 Yankees may not be operating with the full deck they intended to. They may be unorthodox. They may be missing last year’s centerpiece. But, so far, their offense is still producing, led by a different No. 22 and a pair of leadoff hitters who would’ve made Connie Mack scream in anger, but are getting the job done in the modern era.

Rice and Goldschmidt may never be confused for one another, but both men have been instrumental in holding down the fort at first and carrying the offensive load. Both deserve the spotlight early.