The Lombard brothers made history Tuesday as both first-rounders launched solo home runs in their respective debuts, matching exit velocities and milestones in an unforgettable family performance.
Tuesday was a special night for the Lombard family.
Both Miami Marlins prospect Jacob Lombard and his older brother, New York Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr., made their respective debuts on Tuesday. Both brothers announced their arrival to baseball with a home run.
Jacob Lombard smashed a solo home run in the third inning for his first professional hit, highlighting a three-run rally to lead Single-A Jupiter to a 5-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals.
Meanwhile, George Jr. hit his solo shot in his MLB debut, helping the Yankees defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0.
“It was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won't forget,” George Jr. told reporters after the game.
Jacob, who was recently ranked No. 66 among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects, told Fish on First he later found out that both he and his brother hit their home runs with the same exit velocity and on their second plate appearances.
“I don’t even know how that’s possible,” Jacob said.
Their father, Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard Sr., watched his eldest son at Yankee Stadium and followed the Hammerheads game on his phone. He said in an in-game interview with YES, “This was as emotional as any day we've had with our boys.”
George Jr. was drafted in the first round out of Gulliver Prep in Miami three years ago and swiftly rose the ranks to the big leagues. He was putting up a .909 OPS in the minor leagues before the call-up.
The Marlins drafted Jacob in the first round of this year’s MLB Draft because they saw a 6-foot-3 athlete who can play shortstop and do backflips at the age of 18. He also committed to the University of Miami before the draft and is closely compared to his brother in most measurements.
Quiet Debuts
Trade Deadline acquisitions Jonathan Long and Brayden Taylor had quiet Marlins debuts during Triple-A Jacksonville’s 5-2 loss against the Gwinnett Stripers on Tuesday. Both Long and Taylor went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. Long scored a run on a ground ball hit by Kemp Alderman.
Around the Minors
Ian Lewis Jr went 3-for-4 with his 10th home run of the season in Double-A Pensacola’s 10-2 loss against the Montgomery Biscuits on Tuesday.
Wilfredo Lara went 3-for-4 for two RBIs during High-A Beloit’s 9-3 loss against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday.
Jacksonville (12-21) narrowly missed out on the first-half playoff spot in the International League East and is now slightly above last place in the second-half standings. Pensacola (20-14) is in a tight race with Biloxi for the second-half playoff spot in the Southern League South. Beloit (23-14) holds a narrow lead for first place in the Midwest League West standings. Jupiter already clinched a spot in the Florida State League playoffs.
