ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Ben Rice is headed to the Home Run Derby, with his dad in tow.
The Yankees slugger announced Tuesday he will participate in the Home Run Derby next Monday at Citizens Bank Park, on the eve of his first All-Star Game.
Rice, who leads the Yankees with 25 home runs, indicated on Instagram that his father, Dan, will pitch to him in the Derby.
Dan threw batting practice to Rice often during the COVID pandemic, when the Ivy League canceled a pair of seasons that wiped out most of Rice’s career at Dartmouth.
Yankees scout Matt Hyde saw plenty of Rice during those sessions, leading to the organization drafting him in the 12th round in 2021.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. represented the Yankees in last year’s Home Run Derby, but did not make it out of the first round.
Aaron Judge won the event in 2017.
Cam Schlittler, Rice’s fellow All-Star and Massachusetts native, has already volunteered to be Rice’s “personal Gatorade boy” during the Derby.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
