Lombard homers for 1st hit, shines on 'D' in debut he -- and Yanks -- won't forget

NEW YORK – In the hours leading up to his much-anticipated MLB debut, George Lombard Jr. did not show any nerves. In fact, the 21-year-old went so far as to say he was relaxed.

Judging by his performance, it is hard not to believe him.

The Yankees’ top-ranked prospect dazzled with his glove at shortstop and launched a towering home run in his second career at-bat, bringing a raucous crowd of 41,081 inside Yankee Stadium to its feet. Lombard finished his evening 1-for-2 with a walk, jolting the Yankees to a crisp 2-0 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Lombard was the youngest player to start at shortstop for the Yankees since Derek Jeter on June 11, 1995. To anyone watching, it sure didn’t look like it.

“He had a great debut,” said left-hander Ryan Weathers, who tossed six scoreless innings. “He took it by storm.”

That he did. The keynote came in the fifth inning, as Lombard stepped in against right-hander Hunter Dobbins, a power pitcher with an elaborate six-pitch mix. In their first encounter, Dobbins started Lombard with a pair of fastballs before pivoting to spin. Lombard bounced out softly to third base.

This time, Dobbins followed a similar script, and Lombard was ready for the dose of breaking pitches. He ambushed an 0-2 sweeper, depositing it into the left-center-field seats.

Lombard became the 14th Yankees player to homer in his MLB debut, and the first to do so since Jasson Domínguez on Sept. 1, 2023. At 21 years and 63 days, Lombard is the third-youngest player in Yankees history to homer in his MLB debut, older than only Domínguez and John Ellis.

“It was a moment, a swing and a day I won’t forget,” Lombard said.

Lombard can admit that now that it’s over. In the moment, though, he tried to treat his debut like just another game.

In the second inning, when Cardinals first baseman Blaze Jordan ripped a hard-hit ground ball to Lombard’s backhand, the rookie did not panic. Instead, he shifted to his right, gobbled the ball up on the run and unleashed a cross-body strike to second base. From there, Jazz Chisholm Jr. fired to first base to complete a 6-4-3 double play that beckoned a roar.

“It’s one of those plays that you practice,” Lombard said. “I’ve made that play countless times in practice. Just get into the game and your body kind of takes over. Not much thinking went into it.”

Lombard arrived in the Majors with a reputation as a sterling defender. On this night, he fielded all five of his chances with aplomb, helping turn two double plays and navigating a bouncing ball that seemed destined to carom off the second-base bag.

This isn’t new to anyone in the Yankees’ organization. Manager Aaron Boone marveled at the way Lombard played defense in each of the two previous Spring Trainings, crediting his background as a standout soccer player. Whether Boone penciled Lombard in at shortstop, third base or even second base, he made everything look easy.

“The athleticism, but the physicality that he can play it with, really stands out,” Boone said. “Like a puma.”

The son of a former big leaguer, Boone can relate to some of what Lombard is experiencing. Lombard grew up following his dad, George Lombard Sr., around big league clubhouses. George Sr. has spent the past 11 years on a Major League coaching staff, first with the Dodgers and then the Tigers, where he currently serves as the third-base coach.

Lombard is comfortable in these settings. He received congratulatory texts on his call-up from several people around baseball, including Dodgers outfielder Kiké Hernández. In just a few hours, Lombard quickly meshed with his new Yankees teammates, whom he said helped foster a welcoming atmosphere.

Still, as of Tuesday afternoon, there was one hurdle to clear.

“Being in it and actually doing it is different,” Lombard said before the game. “It becomes real for the first time.”

Tuesday unfolded more like a fantasy, and not just for Lombard. George’s parents were in attendance at Yankee Stadium, though only after a change of plans. That’s because George’s younger brother, Jacob – a first-round pick of the Marlins in this year’s Draft – was making his professional debut for Single-A Jupiter. Sure enough, Jacob homered in his second professional at-bat.

Unknowingly, George followed directly in his brother’s footsteps.

“Certainly a night to remember for him and his family,” Boone said. “... They might want to head to Vegas tonight.”