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George Lombard Jr. continues to rise and gives Yankees fans reason to hope originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
George Lombard Jr. isn’t the answer for the New York Yankees this year. Let’s get that out of the way right now. He probably won’t help them next year either. But the latest news on the Yankees’ top prospect is not going to stop the rabid fanbase from calling for him to immediately
Lombard, the Yankees’ 2022 first-round pick, landed at No. 24 on Baseball Prospectus’ midseason Top 50.
Lombard opened eyes in spring training with flashes of legit pop and mature defense, all before his 20th birthday. Then he went out and posted a .329/.495/.488 line at High-A and walked more than he struck out.
That got him to Double-A by early June.
“He forces pitchers to throw strikes and has projectable power output,” wrote Jeffrey Paternostro and Jarrett Seidler of BP. “He’s a likely shortstop-caliber defender with a plus-plus arm.”
That arm, the bat speed that has scouts drooling, aren’t in question. Right now, his ability to handle velocity is still developing. So, he needs to adjust and learn. Moving him too quickly would be damaging to that development.
But his maturity, baseball IQ, the tools and potential are real.
If he can stick at shortstop, great. If not, that arm plays at third, where the Yankees have had him play this year, and that might ultimately be where he ends up.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe have the middle infield covered for now. Chisholm’s contract status looms large next year. He’s a free agent after 2026. If he stays long-term, it’ll probably be at second base. That leaves third base and potentially moving Volpe off shortstop for someone with Lombard’s profile.
But Lombard Jr. has already forced his way into the conversations about next year.
And for a Yankees fanbase that’s been desperate for a real wave of homegrown talent, that’s more than just a glimmer. That’s a start.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
George Lombard Jr. isn’t the answer for the New York Yankees this year. Let’s get that out of the way right now. He probably won’t help them next year either. But the latest news on the Yankees’ top prospect is not going to stop the rabid fanbase from calling for him to immediately
Lombard, the Yankees’ 2022 first-round pick, landed at No. 24 on Baseball Prospectus’ midseason Top 50.
Lombard opened eyes in spring training with flashes of legit pop and mature defense, all before his 20th birthday. Then he went out and posted a .329/.495/.488 line at High-A and walked more than he struck out.
That got him to Double-A by early June.
“He forces pitchers to throw strikes and has projectable power output,” wrote Jeffrey Paternostro and Jarrett Seidler of BP. “He’s a likely shortstop-caliber defender with a plus-plus arm.”
That arm, the bat speed that has scouts drooling, aren’t in question. Right now, his ability to handle velocity is still developing. So, he needs to adjust and learn. Moving him too quickly would be damaging to that development.
But his maturity, baseball IQ, the tools and potential are real.
If he can stick at shortstop, great. If not, that arm plays at third, where the Yankees have had him play this year, and that might ultimately be where he ends up.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe have the middle infield covered for now. Chisholm’s contract status looms large next year. He’s a free agent after 2026. If he stays long-term, it’ll probably be at second base. That leaves third base and potentially moving Volpe off shortstop for someone with Lombard’s profile.
But Lombard Jr. has already forced his way into the conversations about next year.
And for a Yankees fanbase that’s been desperate for a real wave of homegrown talent, that’s more than just a glimmer. That’s a start.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
