New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice will compete in the upcoming Home Run Derby, the team announced Tuesday. The event is scheduled to take place next Monday at Citizens Bank Park, immediately preceding his first All-Star Game appearance.
Rice, who currently leads the Yankees with 25 home runs this season, revealed that his father, Dan Rice, will serve as his pitcher for the competition. Dan Rice previously pitched batting practice to his son during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when the Ivy League's cancellation of seasons significantly impacted Rice's college baseball career at Dartmouth.
Those practice sessions were also observed by Yankees scout Matt Hyde, which contributed to the organization drafting Rice in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. This marks Rice's first participation in the Home Run Derby. Last year, Jazz Chisholm Jr. represented the Yankees in the event but was eliminated in the first round. Aaron Judge won the derby in 2017.
Rice's fellow All-Star and Massachusetts native, Cam Schlittler, has offered to be Rice's "personal Gatorade boy" during the derby.