Ben Rice says he would accept an invitation to the 2026 Home Run Derby if Major League Baseball reaches out. The Yankees first baseman hit his 20th home run on Tuesday and is positioned as the next available Yankees option after injured teammates and recent ab
Ben Rice didn’t just add another swing to his Tuesday night—he added a number that puts him firmly on the Home Run Derby radar.
The New York Yankees first baseman hit his 20th home run on Tuesday. and when asked about next month’s Derby. Rice said he’d be interested if Major League Baseball reaches out. “If I were to get asked to go, I would love to do it. I have not heard anything about it, but sure, I’d be interested. I’ve watched it every year. It would be fun,” Rice told the New York Post earlier this week. He added that he doesn’t think “a few different BPs would mess up my swing. ” and described it as something he’d be comfortable doing.
Rice, 27, has emerged as one of the game’s better hitters over the last two years. His path includes swing changes made in the minors in 2023, followed by increased weight training after the 2024 season. Those adjustments show up in the totals and the underlying contact quality. Rice is fifth in MLB in home runs. and ranks 18th in homers since the start of last season despite ranking 93rd in plate appearances.
He’s also among the league leaders in exit velocity and hard-hit rate, part of why he’s being viewed as a logical fit if the Yankees need a representative.
That question isn’t academic right now. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are both on the injured list and are not expected to return anytime soon. which removes them from Home Run Derby consideration. Judge has also passed on the event in recent years anyway. With those options off the table, Rice becomes the next best Yankees candidate.
The event is still scheduled to happen, with the Home Run Derby taking place on Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. No players have been announced yet.
Last year, Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the first Yankee to participate in the Home Run Derby since Judge won it in 2017. Chisholm was eliminated in the first round. Across Yankees history, four players have won the Home Run Derby: Tino Martinez (1997), Jason Giambi (2002), Robinson Cano (2011), and Aaron Judge (2017).
For Rice, the timing matters: he’s already in the middle of a productive stretch—swing changes behind him, stronger work habits built after 2024, and power showing up in the kind of numbers that make Derby invitations feel inevitable, even if nothing has officially arrived yet.
Ben Rice Yankees Home Run Derby 2026 Citizens Bank Park Aaron Judge Giancarlo Stanton MLB
Home Run Derby is rigged anyway lol.
So he’s just like, waiting for MLB to ask? Yankees should’ve already claimed him like 2 weeks ago. If they’re missing Judge and Stanton then why not.
I don’t get the swing BP thing… like batting practice would definitely mess up your swing, that part sounds fake. Also Rice is 5th in HR but somehow 93rd in plate appearances?? that math isn’t adding up. But yeah sure, put him in the derby.
This feels like a consolation prize because everyone else is hurt. Citizens Bank Park too, that place is huge like why not pick a smaller field first? I’m just saying, Jazz Chisholm got eliminated first round and now it’s Rice’s turn, seems like the Yankees always do this. Also July 13 already?? feels early.