Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler arrived at Citizens Bank Park looking like two players who were still taking in the moment. The Yankees rookies were in Philadelphia for their first All-Star experience, and both carried the kind of quiet surprise that comes with a fast rise.
Their selection is also another reminder of how much the Yankees have gotten out of their player development pipeline. Rice and Schlittler were both signed out of Red Sox territory by Matt Hyde, the club’s lead Northeast-based amateur scout, and now they are on the same All-Star stage as Cody Bellinger.
Rice Earned His Spot After a Breakout First Half
Rice will start at first base in Tuesday’s All-Star Game after injuries opened a path into the lineup. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. withdrew because of lingering lower back tightness, and Nick Kurtz later suffered a right thumb capsule strain.
The opportunity fits the numbers he has put up. Rice has 29 homers and a .971 OPS, production that made his first All-Star nod feel deserved rather than surprising.
| Player | All-Star Role | Key First-Half Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Rice | Starting at first base | 29 homers, .971 OPS |
| Cam Schlittler | Selected as a first-time All-Star | 9-5 record, 2.05 ERA, 137 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings |
Hyde recalled first seeing Rice in the Futures League with the Worcester Bravehearts and immediately noticing his power. He also remembered a championship game at old Holman Stadium in Nashua, New Hampshire, where Rice put on an impressive batting practice display that drew a crowd.
“He was playing in the Futures League for the Worcester Bravehearts,” Hyde said on Monday. “He was a huge part of a team that won a lot of games and ended up playing for the championship at the end of the summer up in Nashua, New Hampshire. What really stood out was that championship game.”
“He took an epic BP, where he was launching balls into these pine trees at old Holman Stadium, where Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe played at one time. Everybody stopped to watch him hit. He looked like a Yankee.”
Rice said getting this kind of recognition is exactly what players dream about. He also said he approached his 12th-round draft selection with gratitude and a simple mindset.
“It’s definitely one of the things you dream of,” Rice said. “Getting that recognition is really cool.”
“I was just so excited to get picked,” Rice said. “I think I had a little bit of naivete to me that really benefited me. I went into it with a ‘there’s nothing to lose’ mentality. I was just going to try to capitalize on any opportunity I got.”
Schlittler’s Rise Has Been Built on Work and Accountability
Schlittler had a strong case to start the game himself, but he chose rest over pushing for one more outing. Even before Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced Dylan Cease as the starter, Schlittler said he had already decided not to try to throw 100 mph on two days’ rest.
“Just trying to put myself and the team first,” Schlittler said. “We’ve got bigger aspirations for the season.”
That attitude matched the reputation Hyde saw in him long before the big leagues. Hyde first noticed Schlittler at Walpole High School and later at Northeastern University, where he said the right-hander had to earn everything.
“Cam has always had to earn things,” Hyde said. “There’s always been a high level of accountability in that [Northeastern] program. I think when you hear Cam talk to the media now in the big leagues, a lot of what he says goes back to the lessons he learned at Northeastern.”
Schlittler’s numbers back up the attention. He is 9-5 with a 2.05 ERA and 137 strikeouts across 118 2/3 innings, giving the Yankees another promising young arm in a meaningful moment.
More Than a Showcase for the Yankees
Having Rice and Schlittler in uniform is a point of pride for the organization, especially with Aaron Judge selected as an AL starter but absent as he recovers from a right rib fracture. Brian Cashman said over the weekend at Tropicana Field that both players were “reasons to be hopeful” heading into the second half.
“We need to have as many quality players as we possibly can,” Cashman said, “and you’re talking about some real quality guys right now with those guys.”
For Rice and Schlittler, the trip also carries a personal layer. Both grew up in Massachusetts and now find themselves representing the Yankees in an event that once seemed far away, even as the attention around them grows.
They are expected to enjoy the All-Star stage, then quickly turn back to the same goal that has carried them this far. Rice said that once the event is over, the focus shifts back to winning a championship.
“Once we’re all done here and the dust settles, we’ll get right back to work,” Rice said, “and go try to win a championship.”
