Ben Rice First to Qualify for 2026 Home Run Derby

A New Era for the Home Run Derby

The 2026 Home Run Derby is shaping up to be an exciting event, featuring a completely new set of rules that are expected to bring more intensity and unpredictability to the competition. However, for the New York Yankees, the excitement was limited, as their representative, Ben Rice, was eliminated in the first round. This marked another tough night for the team, with Rice finishing in last place after hitting only seven home runs—far behind the other competitors.

A Strong Start from Boston’s Willson Contreras

Boston’s Willson Contreras set the tone early in the competition, delivering several powerful home runs that soared over 450 feet. His performance not only established a high standard for the rest of the participants but also set two key records: the most home runs in the round (13) and the longest blast at 490 feet. Contreras’ impressive display immediately put pressure on the other hitters to match his pace.

St. Louis’ Jordan Walker Matches the Pace

St. Louis’ Jordan Walker quickly matched Contreras’ energy, starting off strong with 13 home runs and reaching distances of around 470 feet. His consistent performance kept the competition tight and added to the excitement of the event. Both players were clearly the top contenders at the start of the round.

Kansas City and Chicago Make Their Mark

Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone and Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami stepped up next, showing flashes of potential. Both had moments where they struggled to get the ball into the air, but they eventually found their rhythm with some impressive long balls. Murakami ended the round with nine home runs, while Caglianone managed eight. Neither came close to the power of Contreras or Walker, but their performances were still notable.

Ben Rice’s Struggles and the Yankees’ Performance

Ben Rice was the first of the second group of hitters and faced a difficult start. He struggled with several swings early on, managing only two home runs in his first seven attempts. Although he managed to hit back-to-back home runs later in his round, it wasn’t enough to turn his performance around. By the time he had five swings left, he had only five home runs to his name. One final swing gave him one more, but it resulted in a popup that ended his night. Rice finished with seven home runs, just one short of tying Caglianone. Despite the disappointing result, Rice’s performance was better than Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s the previous year, and he enjoyed participating alongside his father on the mound, which made the experience more memorable for the Yankees.

The Rest of the Contestants Rise to the Challenge

After Rice, several other contestants gave it their best shot. Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero started strong, hitting multiple home runs in his first five swings before finishing with the third-highest total of the round at 12. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who were the hometown favorites, initially struggled but eventually found their rhythm. Schwarber secured the final spot by hitting his 10th home run on his last swing, pushing him past Murakami. Harper, however, fell just short with nine home runs.

A Thrilling Final Round

Schwarber advanced to the finals, where he faced off against Contreras. The crowd in Philadelphia was vocal, booing Contreras as he failed to advance. In the finals, Walker, who had already defeated Caminero, remained calm under pressure. With only one swing left, he delivered six consecutive home runs, securing the title and making history as the first St. Louis player to win the Home Run Derby. Congratulations to Jordan Walker for his incredible performance!