While Jeter hitting a home run at Yankee Stadium isn’t exactly new, what happened on Sunday was a first.
Sunday marked the final game of a series in The Bronx between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Boston shortstop Jeter Downs — who’s named after New York’s legendary shortstop, Derek Jeter — came to the plate in the third inning with a runner on. Downs drilled a two-run home run into the left field seats. The home run was not only Downs’ first home in the stadium where his namesake used to play but the first of his Major League career.
Jeter Downs' first career home run comes at Yankee Stadium! pic.twitter.com/8qvR5USzaw
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 17, 2022
The signficance of Jeter hitting a home run in The Bronx was not lost on baseball fans.
https://twitter.com/RWoodson20/status/1548740874024017920
Even tho I’m a Yanks fan, I love this. Def a full circle moment. Congrats Jeter! https://t.co/SQUdUKjj83
— Bookitty (aka Slumbercat) (@B00kitty) July 17, 2022
Pretty cool seeing #RedSox rookie second baseman Jeter Downs, named after Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, hit his first career home run at Yankee Stadium.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 17, 2022
Jeter Downs' first major league home run comes at Yankee Stadium, just as you'd draw it up.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 17, 2022
Naturally, the Bronx is where Jeter Downs hits his 1st MLB HR.
— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) July 17, 2022
Jeter Downs was named after Yankees legend Derek Jeter, grew up idolizing him.
On Sunday he hits his first career home run in Jeter’s house — Yankee Stadium.
Pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/Z0cxXwabj8
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) July 17, 2022
Much like Mike Yastrzemski hitting a home run in his first game at Fenway Park where his grandfather, Carl, played for more than 20 years, it’s hard to not smile when something like this happens. Regardless of where ones rooting interests may lie, it is a cool moment.
The elder Jeter hit 32 career home runs at the new Yankee Stadium. Certainly, Downs has a long way to go if he’s going to catch that total. But he’s off to a good start.
