Caglianone, Rice Commit to 2026 Derby

For Caglianone, this will be his first Home Run Derby appearance. The 23-year-old Royals slugger has 14 home runs this season, averaging 418 feet per homer, which is tied for the best average in the majors. Rice, who leads the Yankees with 26 homers this season, will look to become the first Yankees player to win the derby since Aaron Judge in 2017. The 27-year-old revealed his father, Dan, who pitched in college at Brown in the 1980s, will throw to him during the competition.

The Derby is part of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game festivities. Five Kansas City players have previously participated in the event but have never won the title. Rice expressed his excitement about participating, saying, "I was really honored. I was hoping they'd ask." This marks the second consecutive year a Yankees player will appear in the Home Run Derby, following Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s participation in 2024. sport-ipl.my