Yankees’ Ben Rice gets first hit in MLB debut: ‘totally surreal’

There are questions about the glove of the Yankees’ new temporary first baseman. He came through college and the system primarily as a catcher, and a scout referred to him as “more of a DH.”

There are fewer doubts about Ben Rice’s bat, and virtually none about his makeup.

In the wake of a right forearm fracture that will keep Anthony Rizzo off the field for around eight weeks, Rice was called up Tuesday, after just 52 career minor league starts at first, so the Yankees can see what the hot-hitting 25-year-old can do.

He performed immediately.

Rice drove a single into right field to load the bases in the third and grinned all the way to first base, getting his first hit out of the way.

“Just an unreal experience — totally surreal,” said Rice, who went 1-for-4 in the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Orioles in The Bronx and debuted a rice-eating salute to the Bleacher Creatures’ roll call. “I’m going to remember it forever.”