Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Yankees infielder Ben Rice (22) bats during the All Star-Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice loved every second of his Home Run Derby experience, even if he was bounced in the first round by Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 25-year-old lefty, who hit off his dad in the derby, recorded seven home runs in his outing at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which was surprisingly hostile toward the Yankees’ All-Star.
“That was sick,” Rice said. “Just getting to be out there with my dad, hearing all the boos and everything, I was just trying to take it all in. It was so fun.”
Rice experienced hearty boos during his introduction and his first round from the Philadelphia crowd, whether because of their disdain for New York or because the Yankees beat their Phillies in the 2009 World Series.
“The boos were crazy, especially in the opening ceremony,” Rice admitted. “It was so cool. I always like the saying, ‘They don’t boo nobodies.’ So it was really cool to just hear them rain down on me and even in the round, too. It was fun.”
Rice admitted he changed his swing from his usual approach, which accounted for 29 home runs during the first half. Instead, he was going for lofted fly balls rather than the line drives that have peppered Yankee Stadium all season.
“I didn’t realize how out front my first swings were gonna be,” Rice said. “I was in the cage, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna hit 20 home runs. I’m on fire right now.’ And then I took my first swing, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I am going so fast right now.’So I just had to figure out a way to slow down.”
Asked if he would consider competing in another Home Run Derby, Rice said that, “We’ll see.”
“When I stepped foot out there, just looked at my dad, and we just smiled at each other,” Rice said. “We were like, ‘Let’s go, let’s take some swings.’ So it was super cool.”
For more on Ben Rice and the Yankees, visit AMNY.com
