Sports

MLB’s Most Infamous Ball Hawk Zack Hample Denied Historic Homer In New York

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Getty Image / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Zack Hample just missed catching George Lombard's first homer.


Zack Hample was denied in his attempt to secure a George Lombard homer during a game between the Yankees and Cardinals. He just missed out on the historic hit, which appeared to tip off the top of his glove in the left field bleachers.

Hample is the MLB’s most infamous ball hawk. Love him or hate him, he is always in the right spot.

That was further evidenced in the Big Apple. Hample was inches away from another souvenir. His failed efforts have since gone viral on social media.

George Lombard went yard in his debut.

Lombard stepped up to the dish in the fifth inning of a 1-0 game. He turned on an 0-2 sweeper and sent it sailing 392 feet beyond the outfield wall.

In doing so, he became just the 14th Yankee to homer in his debut. He is also the third-youngest player to start his first game at shortstop with the Bronx Bombers, trailing only Derek Jeter and Bobby Murcer.

Lombard is a former first-round MLB Draft pick. He was selected 26th overall by the franchise in 2023. The infielder has since been a top performer in the farm system. On Tuesday, he got his first big-league opportunity.

Lombard turned heads in that highly anticipated debut, both at the dish and in the field. He started a pair of double plays from his shortstop position in addition to his performance at the plate.

Making the moment all the sweeter is the fact that his brother also homered the same night in a minor league contest.

Obviously, George Lombard’s blast received the most attention for a number of reasons, one of which related to a somewhat unexpected storyline.

Zack Hample nearly snagged the George Lombard homer.

Hample is a well-known YouTube personality that’s gone viral for his baseball affinity. He’s been to numerous ballparks across the country while securing a collection of over 12,000 baseballs from live games.

He almost had another on Tuesday.

Viewers caught the battle for the baseball in the left field stands after Lombard’s fifth inning shot. A familiar face was in the area.

Hample, standing in the aisle on the right side of the screen, extended upward for the grab. He was denied by a wall of Yankees fans. He just missed out on Lombard’s first home run.

The social media personality has been making the rounds in New York, attending a Mets game earlier this week.

Hample is beloved by some and hated by many across the league. Boos often follow his MLB ballpark journey. This was not his first run-in with the Yankee faithful.

Fans rejoiced when he didn’t catch Aaron Judge’s 61st home run of 2022 campaign. He’s now missed out a second time on New York history.

Zack Hample did not catch George Lombard’s first homer. He was in great position, though. Regardless of your feelings, you have to respect the grind. This surely won’t be his last viral moment of the 2026 season.