THE APEX TIMES
New York’s first baseman said he would accept an invitation to next month’s Home Run Derby if MLB reaches out, pointing to a late-Spring stretch that has him among the league’s more frequent long-ball hitters.
Yankees first baseman Ben Rice said he wants to participate in the 2026 Home Run Derby, a move that would put one of New York’s more consistent power bats on a league-wide stage next month. Rice’s interest arrives with the Yankees carrying momentum into the heart of the summer slate, and it comes during a stretch in which his power output has been elevated enough to draw attention leaguewide.
According to CBS Sports, Rice is currently fifth in MLB in home runs after hitting his 20th homer earlier this week. That same report also places him at 18th in home runs since the start of last season, a longer look that frames his current spike as more than a one-week burst. The Yankees hitter, however, has also shown a willingness to swing for the fences even while not being among the league’s most used hitters by workload.
CBSSports reports that Rice ranks 93rd in plate appearances since the start of last season, which is significant because home run leaderboard positions usually go to everyday starters who see more pitches. The implication for the Yankees is straightforward, his ability to produce extra-base damage without being forced into a maxed-out volume role, which can matter in lineup construction when manager Aaron Boone needs power without sacrificing roster balance.
The pathway to the Home Run Derby depends on MLB invitations, and Rice’s comments in the CBS report were conditional, he would accept if Major League Baseball reaches out. That phrasing matters, because the Derby field can hinge on selections, roster availability, and MLB’s process for choosing participants. Still, being mentioned as a candidate while he sits near the top of the home run ranks positions Rice as a natural fit for the event’s emphasis on slugging rather than base running or defensive value.
For Yankees fans, the timing also fits a broader question, how much of New York’s power core can translate into late-inning impact when games tighten. A Derby appearance would not directly change regular-season outcomes, but it can spotlight how pitchers are approaching Rice, and it can also influence how the Yankees are used offensively around him. In a lineup, the Derby conversation often foreshadows deeper scouting attention, because it indicates who can change game leverage with one swing.
There is also a practical caveat in Rice’s candidacy: home run leaders do not always end up in the Derby, and playing style can affect inclusion if MLB prioritizes marquee names, fan voting results, or specific roster timing. With that in mind, the most important development to watch next is whether MLB officially extends an invitation and, if it happens, whether Rice is selected as one of the official participants.
If Rice receives an invite, it would give the Yankees a representative focused on raw power and would add a familiar New York figure to a midsummer spectacle. More broadly, it would underscore a season-long trend for the Yankees, building offense that can concentrate damage, even from hitters who are not necessarily carrying the highest plate appearance totals.