Why this 19-year-old shortstop might be Yankees' most untouchable prospect
TAMPA, Fla. – The kid had already made an impression at Yankees camp, with his skillful defense and an eagerness to absorb as much as possible on the big-league side.
And then, shortstop George Lombard Jr. launched one off the left-center field scoreboard during a recent exhibition game against the Houston Astros – a shot that drew him a little more attention.
“I didn’t really check to see where it landed,’’ said Lombard Jr., but “I know I got it pretty good.’’
Count Yankees captain Aaron Judge among those who’ve been “really impressed’’ by Lombard Jr., still three months shy of his 20th birthday but already seeing his stock rise within the industry.
George Lombard Jr.'s prospect ranking with Yankees
Currently ranked as the No. 88 prospect among MLB teams by Baseball America, Lombard Jr. is the No. 2-rated prospect in the Yankees’ system per MLB Pipeline – between outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones.
The switch-hitting Dominguez is expected to be a Yankees’ regular this year, while the slugging, lefty-hitting Jones could be competing for a job next spring.
Lombard Jr. is likely to begin this season at Class A Hudson Valley, where he finished last year after spending most of 2024 with lower Class A Tampa.
And so, for as long as he’s at Steinbrenner Field, he’ll keep the questions coming for the likes of Judge, Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger, while savoring every moment.
“It’s been awesome. It's been so much fun, just the amount that I've gotten to learn and the experience of just being around the guys every single day,’’ Lombard Jr. said recently in spring training.
“It's just been great to have a wealth of knowledge around me that I can learn from, trying to take advantage of it as much as I can and be a sponge.’’
Judge took notice of Lombard Jr.’s recent early infield work, making plays at third base, along side Anthony Volpe at short.
“He’s got a great arm, accurate, smooth hands, reliable,’’ said Judge of a player MLB Pipeline rated as the best defensive player in the Yankees’ minor league system entering 2025.
George Lombard Jr. on growing up around the game
The right-handed hitting, 6-foot-2, 190-pound Lombard Jr. certainly projects as a shortstop, but his eventual ticket to Yankee Stadium could be as a third baseman, forming a left-side tandem with Volpe.
“Once you get to the big leagues, you play wherever (to) give the team the best chance to win,’’ said Lombard Jr., whose father is the current Detroit Tigers bench coach.
A lefty-hitting outfielder, George Lombard Sr. - a second-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves - played six MLB seasons, finishing with the 2006 Washington Nationals.
His son was chosen in the first round by the Yankees with the No. 26 overall pick.
During Lombard Jr.’s early teens, his dad was a Los Angeles Dodgers coach, allowing Lombard Jr. (who idolized shortstop Corey Seager, now with the Texas Rangers) to grow up around the game, “watching guys at the highest level go to work every single day’’ and seeing “what it takes to succeed at that level.’’
Coming off his first full minor league season, Lombard Jr. has stood out to Yankees manager Aaron Boone for his “unbelievable work ethic and makeup – just a really talented athlete.
“He’s an exciting player with an exciting future.’’
And that homer off the scoreboard was “a little peek’’ into that baseball future.
“Sometimes you’re trying to impress, do a little too much,’’ Judge said of rookies in camp. “but he stepped right in and kind of owned it all.
“Excited for his future, that’s for sure.’’