Ok, I know what you are saying, we already know the answer, the Big Sleep, Trent Grisham.  Yes, Aaron Boone makes the lineup decisions and not me, but did you ever stop and ask, is it the right one?  A leadoff hitter is vital to a team’s success.  Don’t believe me?  The World Series was a battle between teams with the 1st and 3rd OPS at the top of the order.  So, let’s open our minds and think who should leadoff for the Yankees in 2025?

The “Run it Back” approach

Do you remember who led off against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27, 2025?  Austin Wells.  No, seriously, he did.  The move was always a head-scratcher.  He had a .322 OBP in his rookie season, which isn’t even good.  This experiment didn’t last long for the Yankees, as he only had eight at-bats as the leadoff hitter!  And this was a smart move, because in 2025, his OBP was .275, which is beyond dreadful.  Needless to say, they won’t run it all the way back in 2026.

The “REAL Run it Back” approach

Well, we all know they will run it back this year, given how they brought the same offensive players back.  Grisham had 405 plate appearances as the leadoff hitter in 2025, which lapped basically everybody else, and against lefties, he didn’t leadoff.  How did he do as a leadoff hitter?  Not good, .202/.325/.415.  I mean, he did draw 60 walks, which is downright awesome, but he couldn’t even hit his weight, and even the power wasn’t impressive.  We all know Boone will choose him, but he can do better.  

The “Be the Dodgers” Approach

If there is one thing that is consistent among Yankees fans, it’s that they want the Yankees to do everything the Los Angeles Dodgers do.  Well, if that is so, just take our Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and hit him leadoff.  The Yankees never tried it in 2025, as he exclusively hit second or third last year.  With no one on base, he hit .334/.440/.720 in 2025, which is, of course, out of this world.  56 walks, however, tells the story.  If he hit leadoff, he would likely be walked just about every other day.  That isn’t how you use a star like him.

The “1980s/1990s” approach

Ok.  I am old, so we have to talk about leadoff hitters when I grew up, Rickey Henderson and company.  Speed!  That is what you need at the top of the order.  So why not go with the guy who led the American League in steals last year, Jose Caballero (with 49)?  Let’s remember that he was great last year with the Yankees with a slash line of .266/.372/.456.  We also have to remember, though, that he had an 81 OPS+ with the Tampa Bay Rays, which is why they traded him.  As much as I am fond of speedy leadoff hitters, if he ever stole a base, that means they walk Judge, so alas, it won’t work. 

My Suggested approach

Finally, we get to the right answer, which is, of course, my choice.  Well, my favorite food is Chinese food and everyone knows that it is essential that there is Rice.  So, my choice is Ben Rice, and I got the stats to prove it.  He actually had 102 plate appearances in the leadoff spot in 2025, and he was way better than Grisham with a slash line of .226/.363/.548.  He is a disciplined hitter who like Grisham saw a lot of pitches per each plate appearance.  So, while he doesn’t have speed he has shown he can get on base and his slash line as leadoff hitter was great with that .911 OPS.  Even though it’s not an emergency, perhaps we should call 911 and tell them to let Aaron Boone know that Ben Rice should leadoff on opening day!