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Aug. 4, 2026 is a day the Lombard family will remember for a long time.
Not one, but two brothers made their pro baseball debuts. George Lombard Jr. made his major league debut with the New York Yankees, while his younger brother, Jacob, made his professional debut in Low-A with the Miami Marlins organization.
Both brothers made debuts to remember, as they each blasted a home run with their new clubs.
George Lombard Sr. and his wife, Judy, had flights booked to watch their youngest son, Jacob, make his pro debut in Jupiter. However, upon hearing news of Lombard Jr.’s promotion, Jacob insisted the family should see his older brother in the Bronx instead.
“We found out about 11:30 p.m. last night, so pretty late last night. And my mom was preparing, getting ready to drive up here to Jupiter. It’s not too far of a drive from Miami, but my brother calls my dad, my mom and I on the FaceTime, like we kind of do every night, and he tells us the news and we were kind of all jaw-dropped,” Jacob Lombard said during an appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
“My mom was freaking out. My dad is on the other side of the country in Seattle. I told my mom, ‘Don’t even think about it. You’re not coming over here to Jupiter. You’re going to New York. All you guys are going to New York.’ I’m very happy that the whole family got to go out there and see him and they got to watch kind of my game play out.”
George Lombard Sr. played in the major leagues for six seasons and is currently the Detroit Tigers bench coach. The team allowed him to leave and attend his son’s debut in person.
Jacob Lombard hit his home run first. In the top of the third inning, Lombard, in his second at-bat, pummeled a breaking ball into the visitors’ bullpen for a solo home run for the Jupiter Hammerheads.
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The YES Network broadcast showed a jubilant George Lombard Sr. and Judy watching their youngest son’s home run on their phone and celebrating from their seats in Yankee Stadium.
George Lombard Jr.’s home run came in the fifth inning off St. Louis Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins. Lombard Jr., also in his second at-bat, crushed an 0-2 breaking ball into the left-field seats, similar to where his younger brother hit his.
Beyond both brothers hitting home runs in their second at-bats of the game, there were other striking similarities to the blasts. Both home runs had 33-degree launch angles, and both had exit velocities about 100 mph. Jacob hit his home run at 99.9 mph, while George’s was 100.2 mph.
Jacob was able to watch his brother’s home run live, as the Hammerheads called a mound meeting and the Yankees’ game was on at the bar in the stadium. As he went to the mound, Lombard Jr. hit his home run, cementing a day for the ages.
“I’m screaming at third base like, ‘I think he just hit home run. I think he just hit a home run.’ And then the TV shows my parents hugging and I was like ‘Oh my, he just did that.’ So, it was pretty unbelievable.”
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Both parents were emotional and proud of their sons.
“Just the fact that he’s worked his whole life for this and that day had come, there was no words,” Judy Lombard said in an interview on the YES Network. “For the first time in my life, I think, I didn’t have words. I was just in shock.”
“You don’t ever get these days back,” George Lombard Sr. said in an interview on the YES Network. “This was as emotional as any day we’ve had with our boys.”
George Lombard Jr. said it was a day he won’t forget.
“It was really cool,” the older Lombard said. “Being a close game, it was a big run. So it was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won’t forget.”
The 21-year-old became the first Yankees shortstop to hit a home run in his debut. He was able to get the ball back when he met the fan who caught the ball after the game. Lombard Jr. traded a bat and signed hats for the fan in exchange for the ball.
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Lombard was the 14th player in franchise history to hit a home run in his big league debut and first since Jasson Domínguez went deep in his initial plate appearance against Justin Verlander in Houston on Sept. 1, 2023. The group also includes injured captain Aaron Judge (2016) and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1946).
At 21 years, 63 days old, Lombard became the sixth-youngest Yankees player since 1985 to make his debut and the second-youngest shortstop in that span. Derek Jeter debuted May 29, 1995, in Seattle at 20 years, 337 days.
Lombard Jr. also impressed with his defense, turning multiple slick double plays in the Yankees’ 2-0 win over the Cardinals.
“Obviously, a great first night for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The home run was great. The defense was tremendous.”
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For Jacob Lombard, his brother’s major league debut is his goal.
“The whole goal is for me to also have that moment when, uh, you know, in a couple years. So, I’m excited. You know, they got to be there and I’m sure they’re going to be at mine when mine comes,” Lombard said.
If his minor league career is anything like his debut, it won’t be too long before the Marlins’ 2026 first-round pick makes the major leagues, and the family can create another unforgettable memory.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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