Yankees SS George Lombard Jr. homers in debut, joining brother - ESPN

NEW YORK — Top prospect George Lombard Jr. accomplished something only a few players in New York Yankees history can claim in his major league debut Tuesday night while nearly syncing up with his little brother making his professional debut 1,000 miles south.

About an hour after Jacob Lombard crushed a hanging breaking ball in his second plate appearance in a Single-A game in Jupiter, Florida, his older brother did the same in his second plate appearance in front of a buzzing Yankee Stadium crowd. Both homers came off hanging breaking balls and both solo shots had nearly identical exit velocities (100.2 mph for George, 99.9 mph for Jacob) with the same launch angle (33 degrees).

They even shared a similar opponent. The St. Louis Cardinals for George and their minor league affiliate, the Palm Beach Cardinals, for Jacob.

«I haven't talked to him yet, but I heard. It's pretty awesome,» George said of his younger brother's homer after the Yankees' 2-0 over St. Louis. «I mean, it's probably awesome for my parents. I would bet they were watching the game on their phones. I was really excited for them too.»

The 21-year-old shortstop had already showed off his vaunted glovework with a smooth backhanded stop and off-balanced throw to initiate a double play to end the second inning. Moments later, he followed that up with the home run off St. Louis starter Hunter Dobbins that doubled New York's lead.

«It was probably a moment, a swing, a day I won't forget,» Lombard said.

With the swing, Lombard became the fourth-youngest Yankees infielder to homer in a game, the third-youngest Yankee to homer in his debut and the 14th Yankee to homer in his debut, joining a group that includes Yogi Berra and Aaron Judge. Lombard grounded out in