{"id":20437,"date":"2026-07-07T13:48:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=20437"},"modified":"2026-07-07T13:48:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:48:30","slug":"ben-rice-named-2026-home-run-derby-participant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/07\/07\/ben-rice-named-2026-home-run-derby-participant\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Rice Named 2026 Home Run Derby Participant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For the second straight year, the Home Run Derby will feature a <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/yankee\">New York Yankee<\/a>. Amidst a breakout 2026 campaign, infielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/ricebe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Ben Rice<\/strong><\/a> announced on Tuesday that he will participate in the All-Star break\u2019s most popular event. The 26-year-old is the second confirmed participant, with <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/rays\">Tampa Bay Rays<\/a> infielder <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/caminju01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Junior Caminero<\/a><\/strong> being the first. Rice\u2019s father, Dan Rice, will throw to him.<\/p>\n<h4>A Monster 2026 Season<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"751e1yR6RFl_ljapV0KU-Q\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2238643847\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'751e1yR6RFl_ljapV0KU-Q',sig:'FKcX3rcfMHSvx68kDHFfji41bJvx2fGd5rUvk9kgJ6M=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2238643847',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Few players have hit the ball better than Rice this season. Through 85 games, the Massachusetts native has the eighth-best OPS (.925), fifth most home runs (25), and fourth-best slugging percentage (.565) in the majors. All those marks lead the Yankees, as do his 84 hits, 57 RBI, and .360 on-base percentage.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, Rice was named an American League All-Star reserve, joining the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/athletics\">Athletics\u2019<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kurtzni01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Nick Kurtz<\/strong><\/a> as the first base selections.<\/p>\n<h4>The Legacy He\u2019s Joining<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"JCTdiKr9T1N8HomkQAjUOA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/118868612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'JCTdiKr9T1N8HomkQAjUOA',sig:'_nXqX_lAATlLqGG6AVgDTgfR2Y6UBOP10uuN7RBLm7k=',w:'594px',h:'415px',items:'118868612',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Fittingly, the Bronx Bombers have a storied history at the Home Run Derby. In 1997, the year he hit a career-high 44 home runs, first baseman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/martiti02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Tino Martinez<\/strong><\/a> beat out <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/rockies\">Colorado Rockies<\/a> outfielder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/walkela01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Larry Walker<\/strong><\/a> to capture the title.<\/p>\n<p>Five years later, slugger <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/giambja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jason Giambi<\/a><\/strong> outlasted <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/cubs\">Chicago Cubs<\/a> power hitter <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sosasa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sammy Sosa<\/a><\/strong>. The latter hit four home runs over 500 feet, but Giambi\u2019s 24 long balls outdid Sosa\u2019s 18.<\/p>\n<p>2008 saw Yankee Stadium host the All-Star festivities for the first and only time in the 21st century. Coincidentally, the Bronx Bombers\u2019 home ballpark was the site of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hamiljo03.shtml\">Josh Hamilton&#8217;s<\/a> single-round record of 28 home runs. However, Hamilton lost in the final round to <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/twins\">Minnesota Twins\u2019<\/a> slugger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/morneju01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Justin Morneau<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In 2011, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/canoro01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Robinson Cano<\/a><\/strong> became the third Yankee to win the Home Run Derby. After he and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=gonzal016adr,gonzal013adr&amp;search=Adrian+Gonzalez&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Adrian Gonzalez<\/strong><\/a> clubbed 23 home runs through two rounds, Cano edged the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/redsox\">Boston Red Sox\u2019s<\/a> power hitter by one long ball in the final round.<\/p>\n<p>Six years later, then-rookie<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/judgeaa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Aaron Judge<\/a><\/strong> hit 47 total home runs to win the Yankees\u2019 fourth Home Run Derby in franchise history. The team sent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chishja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=sportrelay.com&amp;utm_campaign=2026-07-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Jazz Chisholm Jr.<\/strong><\/a> to the event last season, although he fizzled out with three home runs in the first round.<\/p>\n<h4>More Details<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"7WwyPVmmR3tVRpM4QMt_pQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2274308393\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'7WwyPVmmR3tVRpM4QMt_pQ',sig:'dcneB4KkBTOMSarEFGGx1OxY-9vAlzs1IVGU5bBhCUk=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2274308393',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The 2026 All-Star festivities, hosted at Citizens Bank Park, begin on Friday, July 10, with the HBCU Swingman Classic. That event is followed by the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, the brightest stars take the field for the All-Star Futures Game. The next day is the Home Run Derby, with the All-Star Game itself concluding the festivities on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Main Photo:<\/h4>\n<p><a id=\"WOT1LMzwSQ5wrrpGitb_Og\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2238643789\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'WOT1LMzwSQ5wrrpGitb_Og',sig:'h_W0hOMy92wlu0uG3DRkvgYfaG4cVWedTZRkO3-_fhQ=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2238643789',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the second straight year, the Home Run Derby will feature a New York Yankee. Amidst a breakout 2026 campaign, infielder Ben Rice announced on Tuesday that he will participate in the All-Star break\u2019s most popular event. The 26-year-old is the second confirmed participant, with Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero being the first. Rice\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":20443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,16],"tags":[2162,2235,2372,2204,103,2512,2102,305,783,306,2174,1620,2509,1912,2510,642,2154,1922,2511,2079,2508,368],"class_list":["post-20437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","category-yankees","tag-2026-athletics","tag-2026-new-york-yankees","tag-2026-tampa-bay-rays","tag-2026-toronto-blue-jays","tag-aaron-judge","tag-adrian-gonzalez","tag-ben-rice","tag-boston-red-sox","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-jason-giambi","tag-jazz-chisholm-jr","tag-josh-hamilton","tag-junior-caminero","tag-justin-morneau","tag-larry-walker","tag-minnesota-twins","tag-nick-kurtz","tag-robinson-cano","tag-sammy-sosa","tag-tino-martinez","tag-vladimir-guerrero-jr","pmpro-has-access","eq-blocks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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