Yankees' Ben Rice has a simple plan for MLB Home Run Derby in Philadelphia

The New York Yankees might not be sending Aaron Judge to the All-Star Game this season, but Ben Rice has made the team and is also participating in the Home Run Derby.

Things should go better than they went during the 2025 Home Run Derby for Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., thanks in part to the plan Rice and his father, Dan Rice, came up with.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, both Ben and Dan Rice have a plan for the derby. They're going to target one spot for the majority of his pitches: middle-in, thigh-high.

Yankees' Ben Rice has a plan for father Dan Rice as his pitcher: middle-in, thigh-high

"Dan is not worried about the crowd, believing he'll be able to focus on the catcher's glove," Olney writes. "And he'll work middle in, thigh high."

Rice, the left-handed slugger, will be able to take advantage of Citizens Bank Park's right field, which is very hitter-friendly.

Taking advantage of that will be paramount for Rice to win the Derby, and the plan for Rice and his father will be target middle-in, not too far inside or outside, and around thigh high.

It's a simple plan for Rice during the Home Run Derby, but in the new format with limited swings and no time limit, waiting for the best pitch, which for Rice will be middle-in, thigh-high, is the smart thing to do.

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Rice has 29 homers coming into the Home Run Derby Monday night in Philadelphia, and he has a real chance to win if he can be patient and wait for his desired pitch.

The Rice duo has practiced already, but the actual competition is a different beast entirely. Especially since the hometown Phillies fanbase likely will be rooting for Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber over Rice.

The Yankees star slugger has a plan and will be seeking out middle-in, thigh-high pitching from his father, Dan Rice. It's Ben Rice's first Home Run Derby, and it should be a fun one amid a breakout season for the 27-year-old Yankees All-Star.

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