As Robert Sanchez of SNY noted, New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice heard plenty of boos while being introduced for Monday's Home Run Derby held at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Rice hit just seven home runs en route to being eliminated in the first round of the competition. Following the event, Rice discussed the not-so-warm welcome he received from certain members of the Philadelphia faithful.

Ben Rice had fun in the Home Run Derby despite boos and lack of success

"The boos were crazy, especially in the opening ceremony," Rice said. "It was so cool. I always like the saying 'they don’t boo nobodies,' so it was really cool to just hear them rain down on me, and even in the round, too. It was fun." 

It was previously learned that Rice's father, a former pitcher for Brown University, would throw to the 27-year-old during the Home Run Derby. That made Monday's experience all the more special for the first baseman. 

"That was sick," Rice said. "Just getting to be out there with my dad, hearing all the boos and everything. I was just trying to take it all in. It was so fun." 

Would Ben Rice participate in a future Home Run Derby?

Last week, Rice insisted he wasn't worried that participating in the Home Run Derby could negatively impact his swing during the second half of the 2026 MLB season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone will hope that proves to be the case, as ESPN stats show that Rice entered the All-Star break leading the Yankees among qualified players with a .279 batting average, 29 home runs, 68 RBI and a .971 OPS. 

"We’ll see, we’ll see. We’ll think about it," Rice said about possibly participating in a future Home Run Derby. "If I ever got the chance, I’d definitely consider it, but we’ll see. ...Even just when I stepped foot out there, just looked at my dad, and we just smiled at each other, and we were like, 'Let’s go, let’s take some swings.' So it was super cool." 

Rice and the 54-42 Yankees will open the second half of the campaign with a three-game home series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers (61-36), which will get underway on Friday evening.