New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice announced his participation in the upcoming Home Run Derby over social media on Tuesday.
Rice posted a video on Instagram that showed his father, Dan, pitching to him when he was a kid. He accompanied the video with a caption that read: “Dad and I are heading to the HR Derby! Swipe to see our first practice round.”
Rice joins Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero as the first two participants in the Home Run Derby, which will be contested on Monday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Rice, 27, will look to become the first Yankees player to win the Home Run Derby since Aaron Judge in 2017. Tino Martinez (1997), Jason Giambi (2002) and Robinson Cano (2011) also won the derby while competing in a New York uniform.
Rice leads the Yankees in batting average (.267), homers (25) and RBIs (57) this season.
