At least the New York Yankees gave George Lombard Jr. one final opportunity to face his father’s team this spring. The top infield prospect was reassigned to minor league camp following the Yankees’ victory over the Detroit Tigers.
The 19-year-old rising star impressed during his time in spring training. With injuries to Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, Lombard gave the Yankees a glimpse of their potential future lineup. He entered camp as one of the organization’s most promising young infielders and lived up to the hype.
The Yankees experimented with him at shortstop, second base, and third base, aiming to enhance his defensive versatility as he progresses in the minors. Although it was never expected that Lombard would break camp with the major league squad, he impressed with his athleticism, defensive skills, and flashes of offensive promise.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73889115/2038744750.0.jpg)
His standout moment came when he crushed a 414-foot home run in a spring training game, showcasing his raw power. “He’s been terrific,” said manager Aaron Boone earlier in camp. “Defensively, he’s really special. He’s had a lot of good at-bats lately. His last two at-bats, he hit balls well into the gaps that center fielders ran down.
The last one he hit went where the grass doesn’t grow. I told him, ‘Quit hitting them at them, you’ve got to 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.
Last season, he split time between Single-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley, playing 110 games and posting a .254 batting average, a .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 performance has only strengthened the belief that he’s a future impact player for the Yankees. He’s made a strong impression and may soon force his way to the majors.
