Ben Rice did not come from a pedigree program or a high draft slot. He was taken in the 12th round of the 2021 draft, 363rd overall, out of Dartmouth. On July 13, he will compete in the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. His father, Dan Rice, will be the one throwing to him.
According to Yahoo Sports, the two have talked about this moment since Ben was a little kid. Dan Rice pitched at Brown in the 1980s and has kept throwing to his son ever since. The Derby will just be the largest venue they have ever used.
"That was always a lifelong dream of both of ours," Rice said. "So I am really looking forward to it."
Rice, now 27, made his major league debut in July 2024 with a three-homer game against the Red Sox, becoming the first Yankees rookie to ever do that. A strong 2025 followed, and this season the left-handed hitting first baseman and designated hitter has become one of the more productive bats in the American League. Going into Tuesday's game, he was hitting .267 with 25 home runs, tied for fifth-most in the majors and third in the AL.
He entered this season as a fill-in. With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton both hurt, Rice became the bat the Yankees lineup leaned on. That role led to his first All-Star selection and his first Derby invitation.
A Yankee has not won the Home Run Derby since Judge took the title in Miami in 2017. Before him, Tino Martinez, Jason Giambi, and Robinson Cano each won it. Last year, Jazz Chisholm Jr. entered but went out in the first round with three home runs.
The blueprint Rice is following has recent precedent. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh won the 2025 Derby in Atlanta with his father pitching to him and his younger brother behind the plate. Junior Caminero, the Rays slugger Raleigh beat in the final, is the only other confirmed participant in Philadelphia so far.
MLB also changed the format this year. The timed rounds that players had complained were too exhausting are gone. Round one now has 20 swings, round two 15, and the final 15. Rice is fine with that, and not only for himself.
"It also takes some pressure off the BP thrower, because I have to swing at every pitch," he said. "Overall it's a positive change."
Rice has some experience in swing-off situations. In his summer college league in 2020, tie games were decided by a home run swing-off. He went through that format three times that year. He won all three.