NEW YORK – George Lombard Jr. did not need long to make a first impression.
Making his MLB debut on Tuesday night, the Yankees’ top-ranked prospect launched a towering home run in just his second career at-bat. Lombard ambushed an 0-2 sweeper from Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins, depositing it into the left-center-field seats at Yankee Stadium.
The solo shot extended the Bombers’ lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning and brought a raucous crowd of 41,081 to its feet. The 21-year-old finished 1-for-2 with a walk, jolting the Yankees to a crisp 2-0 victory over the Cardinals.
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, including his current role as the Tigers’ third-base coach. In a pregame press conference, the younger Lombard credited his background for supplying an extra layer of comfort ahead of his debut. Still, as of Tuesday afternoon, there was still one hurdle to clear.
“Being in it and actually doing it is different,” Lombard said. “It becomes real for the first time.”
As far as Lombard’s MLB debut goes, things unfolded more like a fantasy.
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.
The home run furthered a whirlwind 24 hours for Lombard, who first learned of his big league call-up late Monday night via a group FaceTime with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Shelley Duncan, Double-A Somerset manager James Cooper and Minor League coordinator Ryan Hunt. Lombard packed his bags for the Bronx and found himself hitting in the No. 8 spot in the lineup for his debut. He was the youngest player to start at shortstop for the Yankees since Derek Jeter on June 11, 1995.
Lombard did not look overmatched. He arrived in the Majors with a reputation as a sterling defender, and he showed off his slick glove on several occasions. He helped turn two double plays behind Ryan Weathers – who chipped in six scoreless innings – including a splendid play in the second inning, sliding to his left to snag Blaze Jordan’s hot shot on his backhand.
Tuesday turned into a magical day for the Lombard family at large. George’s parents were in attendance at Yankee Stadium, but 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. Perhaps unknowingly, George followed directly in his brother’s footsteps.