Dad Gets the Call

Some athletes are simply easy to root for, and New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice is certainly one of them.

Rice has become one of baseball's best feel-good stories this season. The young slugger has enjoyed a breakout campaign, launching nearly 30 home runs before the All-Star break while helping keep the Yankees' offense rolling during Aaron Judge's absence. His production, humility and hard-working attitude have quickly made him a fan favorite in the Bronx.

But it was Rice's announcement for this year's Home Run Derby that won over baseball fans everywhere.

Instead of making a flashy reveal, Rice shared a heartfelt video on X that showed his father throwing baseballs to him in the backyard when he was a child. The video ended with the announcement that his father, Dan Rice, would serve as his pitcher in the Home Run Derby.

For Ben Rice, there was never another choice.

Dan Rice, who pitched for Brown University in the 1980s, helped shape his son's love for the game long before packed stadiums, television cameras and Major League Baseball entered the picture. Now, father and son will stand together on one of baseball's biggest stages, sharing a moment neither will ever forget.

There are home runs that win games, and there are moments that remind us why we fell in love with sports in the first place.

Watching a father throw batting practice to his son in the Home Run Derby won't affect the standings or determine a championship, but it will create a memory that will last a lifetime. It's a reminder that behind every professional athlete is a family that sacrificed countless hours, offered endless encouragement and believed long before anyone else did.

Whether you're a Yankees fan or not, it's hard not to smile at this story. For one night, the spotlight won't just shine on Ben Rice—it will also shine on the father who helped make that dream possible.