Ben Rice’s first appearance in the MLB Home Run Derby lasted only one round, but the night became about much more than the final score. Standing on the mound and throwing every pitch was his father, Dan Rice, turning the event into one of the most memorable father-son moments of All-Star Week.The New York Yankees slugger managed seven home runs before being eliminated, but both Ben and Dan made it clear that simply sharing the field together at Citizens Bank Park was a victory in itself.
Who is Dan Rice?
Dan Rice is the father of Yankees first baseman and designated hitter Ben Rice. Although he has stayed out of the public spotlight, he has been one of the biggest influences on his son’s baseball career.Rice is an attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience. Before entering the legal profession, he pitched for Brown University from 1983 to 1986 and graduated from the Ivy League school in 1986. He was later inducted into the Boston Park League Hall of Fame in recognition of his amateur baseball career. Baseball runs deep in the Rice family. Dan’s father, Gordon “Gordy” Rice, was a longtime youth coach in Westwood and a familiar face at local sporting events. His brother, Dave Rice, also made a name for himself as a baseball and hockey player. Growing up in that environment helped fuel Dan’s love for sports, a passion he later passed on to Ben through years of batting practice and mentorship.Dan has served as Ben’s batting practice pitcher since childhood. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Ben’s college season at Dartmouth was interrupted, he continued throwing batting practice to help him stay sharp before the Yankees selected him in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.Ben has often said those sessions were never about perfect mechanics. Instead, his father challenged him by mixing pitch speeds and locations, helping him prepare for real game situations. Despite Ben’s rise to the major leagues, Dan has kept his personal life private, but recently he stole the spotlight during a special Home Run Derby moment.
Ben Rice and Dan Rice share a special home run derby experience
When Ben Rice received his first All-Star selection in 2026, choosing his Home Run Derby pitcher was an easy decision. He turned to the person who had thrown him batting practice for most of his life. The father-son duo prepared together at Yankee Stadium and Nationals Park before arriving in Philadelphia. Ben entered the Derby after hitting 29 home runs during the first half of the season and hoped to carry that power into baseball’s biggest home run competition.The Derby itself ended quickly, with Ben finishing the opening round with seven home runs. Even so, he later admitted that the adrenaline of the event and the loud reaction from the hometown Phillies crowd made the experience unforgettable.Before the competition, Ben said the event was already a success because he and his father were getting to share the moment together. Dan echoed those feelings afterward, saying there was nothing better than hearing his son drive baseballs into the seats of a major league stadium.Although the Home Run Derby did not end with a trophy, it gave Ben and Dan Rice a lifelong memory, highlighting the bond that helped carry the Yankees slugger from batting practice sessions in Massachusetts to baseball’s biggest power stage.
