It could be a few years before Aaron Judge and George Lombard Jr. consistently share a spot in the New York Yankees’ lineup, but Judge is already impressed by what he’s seen from the 19-year-old shortstop. Lombard, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect behind outfielder Jasson Domínguez, has been turning heads throughout spring training. The 2023 No. 26 overall pick is hitting .333 with two home runs and four RBIs in eight preseason games. He made waves again on Tuesday, smacking a 106 mph single off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler.
Judge, who was once a top prospect himself, has been especially impressed with Lombard’s performance. “He’s gonna be something special,” Judge told the New York Post. The Yankees’ captain specifically highlighted Lombard’s work ethic and power.
While Lombard only hit .231 across two minor-league levels last year, he posted 25 doubles, swiped 39 bases, and maintained a .338 on-base percentage. To put that into perspective, 40 MLB players had a .338 OBP or better last season, including stars like Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt, Kyle Schwarber, and Francisco Lindor.
“He’s a great kid,” Judge added. “He’s a hard worker who goes and does his thing. He doesn’t say much. He shows up and does what he needs to do.” It’s still unclear whether Lombard will start the season at High-A, where he finished 2024, or move up to Double-A. However, given his impressive showing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lombard in the Bronx sooner rather than later.
