At least the New York Yankees gave George Lombard, Jr. one last chance to play against his father’s team this spring. The top infield prospect was reassigned to minor league camp after the Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers.
The 19-year-old rising prospect had an impressive performance in spring training. With injuries affecting Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu this spring, Lombard allowed the Yankees to envision their future lineups.
He entered camp as one of the organization’s most intriguing young infielders, and he didn’t disappoint. The Yankees experimented with him at shortstop, second base, and third base, looking to increase his defensive versatility as he develops in the minors.
New York Yankees prospect George Lombard, Jr.
© Dave Nelson-Imagn Images
Although he was never expected to break camp with the big-league club, Lombard turned heads with his athleticism, defensive instincts, and flashes of offensive potential. His most memorable moment came when he launched a towering 414-foot home run in a spring training game, showcasing his raw power.
“He’s been terrific,” manager Aaron Boone said earlier in camp. “He’s really so good defensively, special. He’s had a lot of good at-bats lately. His last two at-bats, he’s hit balls really well into the gaps that center fielders run down. This one he hit where the grass doesn’t grow. So I said, ‘Quit hitting them at them, you gotta hit it over them.’ It was a no-doubter.”
Lombard, the son of former major leaguer and current Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard, was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of high school. He spent last season split between Single-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley, playing 110 games and posting a .254 batting average, .704 OPS, and 42 stolen bases. Scouts believe his offensive numbers will improve as he matures physically and refines his swing.
While Lombard won’t start the season in the Bronx, his strong spring only reinforced the belief that he is a future impact player for the Yankees. He’s forced his way into the Yankees’ conscious and may well force his way to the majors soon enough.
