It was learned on Tuesday that New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice will compete in this year’s Home Run Derby on July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Some Yankees fans immediately voiced concerns that Rice participating in the Home Run Derby could negatively impact his swing regarding the second half of the 2026 MLB season. On Tuesday, Rice shared why he has no such worries.
Ben Rice is a fan of this year’s Derby format
“The timer format is way different than what it is for this upcoming one,” Rice explained, per Erik Boland of Newsday. “That one, the timing format, that’s way different. We never, in BP, are swinging like that, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back. I would be so tired.”
This year’s version of the Home Run Derby will be the first without a clock since 2014. Previously, players had a set amount of time per round to swing for the fences. As noted by Evan Drellich and Johnny Flores Jr. of The Athletic, competitors will receive 20 swings in the first round of this year’s Derby and 15 in both of the final two rounds.
“I think it’s a positive change,” Rice said.
Aaron Boone is “super excited” Ben Rice is in the Home Run Derby
With captain Aaron Judge seemingly out of action until at least the middle of August due to a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side, Rice has become the Yankees’ most important hitter. ESPN stats show that Rice began Wednesday leading the Yankees with a .273 batting average, 26 home runs, 60 RBI and a .941 OPS.
Meanwhile, the 50-41 Yankees ended Tuesday trailing the 53-36 Tampa Bay Rays in the battle for first place in the American League East standings.
Rice’s father is a former pitcher for Brown University and is scheduled to throw to the 27-year-old during the Home Run Derby. On Tuesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone insisted he is “super excited” Rice is competing in the All-Star week event.
“I know he’s doing it with his dad, so there’s that father-son baseball component to it,” Boone added. “Hopefully, it’s a lot of fun and meaningful to the entire Rice family. Hopefully, he goes there and does well, and it’ll be a springboard for him in the second half.”
If the opposite happens, the Yankees could eventually find themselves in danger of missing the playoffs.