The New York Yankees’ rain-soaked showdown against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night delivered more than just a game—it gave fans a front-row seat to some of the wildest dugout chemistry in recent memory. After an agonizing hour-and-52-minute rain delay, rookie Ben Rice stepped up to the plate against the formidable Joe Ryan and set the stage for a moment that had the Bronx buzzing with laughter and confusion.
Rice, who’s been battling the title of baseball’s unluckiest hitter, finally caught a break. His first at-bat of the night resulted in a hard-hit ball that—unlike so many others this season—actually found grass instead of an outfielder’s glove. The crowd roared, but the real show started when Rice reached first base. What followed was a masterclass in rookie hazing, orchestrated by the Yankees’ electric bench mob and led by the ultimate vibes machine, Amed Rosario.
I think Ben Rice just got set up to look a fool pic.twitter.com/1euLw3uSMA
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) August 14, 2025
As Rice attempted a celebratory gesture, the Amazon Prime broadcast caught a glimpse of pure chaos unfolding in the dugout. Rosario, Luis Gil, Fernando Cruz, and Jasson Dominguez were all in on it, wildly signaling for Rice to ditch his planned celebration and try something else—a bizarre, almost dog-paw-like motion. Cruz, in particular, was the ringleader’s hype man, enthusiastically waving his hand in a split-finger grip, flopping it forward like a puppy begging for a treat. Rice, visibly confused, mouthed a clear “What?” before reluctantly mimicking the gesture. The dugout erupted in hysterics.
Let’s call it what it was: a classic prank. The Yankees’ bench mob, with Rosario as the maestro and Cruz as the overzealous hype man, had Rice performing a celebration so absurd it could only be a setup. Cruz, who’s currently prepping for three rehab appearances, stole the show with his infectious laughter and unbridled enthusiasm. Poor Rice? He might’ve been the only one not in on the joke.
The moment, caught on camera, is destined to go viral, and it’s sure to make the Yankees’ upcoming flight to St. Louis for their series opener against the Cardinals on Friday… interesting, to say the least. Rice’s bewildered expression suggested he had zero context for the “dog paw” move he was roped into. Rookie hazing in the Bronx clearly isn’t limited to the traditional dress-up antics on the season’s final road trip—this was a next-level, in-game bamboozling.