Andy Pettittes son homers in first game for Yankees affiliate with dad in attendance: Surreal moment

It took Luke Pettitte one professional game to match his dad’s career home run output.Luke Pettitte, who was drafted by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2026 MLB Draft, went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in his debut with the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate.With father Andy Pettitte in attendance at George M.Steinbrenner Field, Luke, 21, began his pro career by grounding an RBI single to right field in his first at-bat to cut Tampa’s early deficit to 7-5.In the bottom of the fifth, Luke drove the fifth pitch, an 89 mph fastball, of his at-bat versus Daytona Tortugas left-hander Dominic Scheffler deep to left field for a 400-foot home run.“It was just a pretty surreal moment,” Luke said after his memorable debut in which Tampa fell 12-11, per MiLB.com.

“Obviously, I get to wear the pinstripes.It’s not the Yankee uniform yet, but getting to try and follow in my dad’s footsteps and take in what tonight was all about.“Having them there, and making the most of every opportunity and every moment that I had, that was really special.”It was an encouraging start for Pettitte, whom the Yanks took out of Dallas Baptist University due to his potential two-way prowess.Pettitte posted a 3.19 ERA with 56 strikeouts over 48 innings during two collegiate seasons, but Tommy John surgery wiped out his entire pitching campaign in 2026.Turning his attention to full-time designated hitter duties, Pettitte slashed .337/.403/.693 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs for Dallas Baptist, drawing interest from the Yankees regardless of his last name.“We liked him as a pitcher; he got hurt.

We followed him as a hitter, he’s had power,” Yankees vice president and director of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer said.“The guy’s got a good swing, so his name could have been [anything] and we were taking him based off the ability we saw here.”Andy Pettitte, one of the greatest pitchers in Yankees history and a current special adviser to the or...