A Yankee slugger finished in last place at the Home Run Derby for a second straight season.
Ben Rice, participating in the event for the first time in his young career, managed just seven home runs in the first round, one year after Jazz Chisholm also did not make it out of the quarterfinals. The eventual winner was Jordan Walker of the Cardinals, who hit six straight home runs in the championship round to edge hometown slugger Kyle Schwarber at Citizens Bank Park.
Rice, like the rest of the non-Phillies competitors, heard loud boos throughout the event, starting with introductions and continuing to when Rice stepped up to the plate, which Rice found to be "so cool."
"That was sick," Rice said. "Just getting to be out there with my dad, hearing all the boos and everything, I just tried to take it all in. It was so fun."
Rice's father, Dan, pitched to Rice, and while he did not last long in the competition, he loved every minute of it, including those loud boos from the boisterous Philly crowd.
"I always like the saying, 'They don't boo nobodies,' Rice said. "It was really cool to just hear them rain down on me. It was a lot of fun."
The Yankee slugger hit seven home runs and was bounced in the first round.
The Yankee slugger hit seven home runs and was bounced in the first round.
