Luke Pettitte, son of former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, hit a home run in his professional debut Tuesday, matching his father's career output of one round-tripper. Pettitte, drafted by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2026 MLB Draft, went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees' Single-A affiliate.
With his father, a five-time World Series champion and current special adviser to the Yankees, watching from the stands, Luke Pettitte hit a 400-foot home run to left field in the fifth inning. The 21-year-old also recorded an RBI single in his first professional at-bat.
"It was just a pretty surreal moment," Luke Pettitte said after the game, which his team lost 12-11. "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."
Pettitte played as a designated hitter and hit .337 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs for Dallas Baptist University in 2026. The Yankees selected him based on his hitting potential, despite a history of injuries that affected his pitching, including Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2026 season. Yankees vice president and director of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer noted that the team was impressed with Pettitte's swing and power, irrespective of his family name.
Andy Pettitte hit his only career home run on August 11, 2006, while playing for the Houston Astros against the San Diego Padres. This past weekend, Carsten Sabathia III, son of former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, also hit his first professional home run in his fifth game for the Wilson Warbirds, another Yankees affiliate, with his father present.