Luis García Jr. smashes go-ahead homer in first game since trade to Yankees

The day after getting traded by the Washington Nationals, Luis García Jr. started his career as a New York Yankee on a strong note. García, who started for the Yankees at first base for Monday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, made an immediate impact with a go-ahead home run.

García started a little slow, getting one single in his first three at-bats in a Yankees uniform. But in the bottom of the seventh, García smashed the two-run homer to right center, giving the Yankees the lead for the first time all game.

The homer furthered a New York comeback that had started in the fifth inning, with five Yankee homers giving the team seven unanswered runs.

García was just one of a flurry of trades taking place over the past few days ahead of Monday evening’s trade deadline. The Nationals received four right-handed pitchers in return for García, who had spent his entire career within Washington’s organization.

García, who was born in New York City before his family moved back to the Dominican Republic, told reporters on Monday that he grew up as a Yankees fan. He told YES Network ahead of the game how excited he was to play for the Yankees, and that he already feels “at home” among his teammates.

“It does mean a lot, for my family, for me too. My family’s so happy,” García said. “I definitely think it’s going to be special. Being born here, in New York, playing in front of my family, I think is going to mean so much to me. The whole experience is going to be great.”

Aaron Boone had told reporters earlier on Monday that he expected García to be an “instant presence” in the lineup — and he turned out to be very correct, as García only needed one game to announce himself to the Yankees fanbase.

This story will be updated.