George Lombard Jr.: Yankees prime prospect talks Anthony Volpe, his MLB future

Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr., a five-tool shortstop who was promoted to the Double-A Somerset Patriots final season earlier than his 20^th birthday, is shortly coming into the big-league image.

“Doing this job for as long as I have, usually players that possess some severe, high-ceiling talent, which George Lombard has, once it comes together, altogether, it can come really fast,” Yankees normal supervisor Brian Cashman mentioned throughout final November’s GM conferences. “Defensively, he’s able to go. Offensively, it appears to be like like he wants extra time … so I wouldn’t suppose ‘26 is on the horizon, but I wouldn’t rule sooner or later out in ‘26.”

While Lombard hit just .215 in 108 games with Somerset, he batted .268 over his final 15 games. Counting his 24 games at High-A Hudson Valley, he finished with respectable numbers for a youngster playing one or two levels above many of his peers — a .235 average with nine homers, 49 RBI, 35 steals, 87 walks and 146 strikeouts in 580 plate appearances.

He also had a .984 fielding percentage, which was much better than Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s .970 in 2023, .972 in 2024 and .963 in 2025.

Tall and slender, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has a construct that resembles a younger Alex Rodriguez. Also, each had been Miami space prep stars.

The oldest son of Detroit Tigers bench coach and former big-league outfielder George Lombard Sr., Lombard Jr.’s elite skillset, work habits and make-up remind baseball individuals of Aaron Judge.

“I’m a part of the Lombard fan club,” an American League scout instructed NJ Advance Media final week.

Here’s extra from the scout, who was granted anonymity as a result of he’s not permitted to publicly speak about opposing gamers:

“I think that kid’s going to be special. I really do,” he mentioned. ”There’s an aura about Lombard on the sector. He strikes in a different way from everyone else. As quickly as you see him, you realize he’s received that ‘it factor.’ I don’t know what it’s, however he’s received it. His instincts are off the charts. He’s a sensible baserunner, too.

“Now he got his ass handed to him a little bit in Double A hitting-wise, but that was expected. He’s 20. He’s going to hit. And, oh God, he’s good defensively! He plays circles around Volpe. I think Lombard is going to be their future shortstop.”

The Yankees drafted Lombard twenty sixth total in 2023. He’s already their No. 1 prospect and is ranked twenty second in Baseball America’s prime 100 and No. 25 in MLB Pipeline’s.

Just again from a household trip, Lombard talked with NJ Advance Media the opposite day about his baseball profession, his future, Anthony Volpe, his hobbies and lots extra:

Did you go someplace enjoyable to your winter trip?

Lombard: We went to the Bahamas.

Are you a seashore man?

Lombard: Yeah, I really like being within the water. Anything within the water. I like to fish. We’ve by no means had a ship, however I’ve all the time had numerous buddies that do, so I used to be in a position to exit on a regular basis. I’ve performed numerous spear-fishing. I’ve caught some actually massive sharks. I caught a 500-pound bull shark.

What was it like reeling that in?

Lombard: It was exhausting. It took 2 1/2 hours to get it in, then we let it go. That was not enjoyable. It’s extra enjoyable after I catch fish, then take it house and prepare dinner it for everyone.

You prepare dinner?

Lombard: I discovered throughout Covid after I was caught on the home. I began watching YouTube movies and taught myself, principally. A whole lot of it was simply experimentation … making an attempt this, making an attempt that.

What’s a typical offseason day for you?

Lombard: At first, it’s extra constructing my physique up for the seven-month season, then I begin incorporating all of the baseball stuff. That’s the place I’m at now preparing for the spring. I’ll be in Tampa quickly.

Baseball-wise, what particularly are you engaged on?

Lombard: My greatest focus is constant to study my swing and tendencies. What goes to assist me after I’m struggling? I’m working to dial in to increase these streaks of consistency.

What are your greatest takeaways from final season? You had been actually challenged enjoying Double-A ball so younger.

Lombard: For certain, it positively was a problem after I first received to Somerset. Adjusting, I handled my fair proportion of struggles. I feel it was nice simply with the ability to discover ways to take care of that, learn how to course of it, learn how to hold going along with your work, learn how to get by means of it. There positively had been numerous studying moments.

What was the hardest half about hitting Double-A pitching two years out of highschool?

Lombard: As you get to that degree, the pitchers are just a bit bit extra in contact with what they’re making an attempt to do with their recreation planning and the way they use their pitches. I needed to discover ways to take care of getting one hit in 4 days with some strikeouts. I needed to discover ways to keep composed when you have got that battle, discover ways to transfer previous it.

Three scouts who’re with different groups instructed me final season that you simply positively are the shortstop of the Yankees’ future, not Anthony Volpe. I do know it’s cliché to say, ‘One day at a time, one year at a time,’ however you’re human. Do you surprise how that is going to play out?

Lombard: Like you mentioned, it’s cliché. But that short-term mentality the place I’m simply with blinders on, specializing in myself, I feel that’s the important thing to it. We don’t know what’s going to occur sooner or later. One million issues can occur between at times, numerous fully surprising issues, so I simply all the time attempt to avoid trying too far forward into the long run and give attention to my day-to-day stuff. I belief that no matter’s in my street forward goes to determine itself out like the whole lot else does.

You spent a while with Volpe final yr throughout spring coaching. Like you, teammates and coaches all the time carry up how good of an individual he’s and the way exhausting he works. I’m guessing that you simply guys bonded indirectly.

Lombard: Yeah, Volpe was nice. We spent numerous time collectively. We labored out collectively. He helped me out lots studying the sport, studying issues on protection, studying the life-style, studying to be a pacesetter. He’s an ideal dude, and I’m actually grateful for all that he has helped me up to now.

I bear in mind a day from final spring coaching when Aaron Judge talked about he spent a while watching your infield work on a again discipline. He was raving about you. He’s additionally talked about your make-up in addition to your expertise.

Lombard: I’m grateful listening to issues from those that I worth their opinion. I take delight in being knowledgeable. When I’m on the sector, it’s not like I’m doing stuff making an attempt to painting one thing. I simply go on the market and be myself as a baseball participant.

If Judge is raving about your work habits and make-up, that’s saying lots as a result of he’s nearly as good because it will get in these areas. Was it your loved ones who formed you into being who you’re as a younger man?

Lombard: It’s numerous issues. First off, I all the time have to say each of my mother and father. My dad, having been across the recreation a very long time, he’s performed all of it arising as a prospect, struggling, coping with accidents, having an extended profession. He is aware of the sport. Outside of the sport, he’s an ideal one that taught me a lot … learn how to deal with myself off the sector, learn how to deal with different individuals, learn how to deal with myself when issues don’t go my approach. So he’s taught me not solely the baseball facet of my life, however the human facet, too. My mother as effectively. She’s additionally been an enormous affect, placing me in a great spot, understanding learn how to deal with individuals, the work ethic. I’ve an ideal household, however the entire assist employees I’ve had round me — my mother and father, my household, the coaches that I’ve had — everyone has actually been in alignment and helped me be the individual that I’m right this moment.

I used to be a Phillies beat author for 17 years and bear in mind a younger Chase Utley telling me his dad pulled him from a Little League recreation when he threw a tantrum. Did something related occur to you that grew to become a studying expertise?

Lombard: Hearing you point out Chase’s title, I’m smiling as a result of my dad was teaching in L.A. when Chase was with the Dodgers. One of the primary gloves I used was given to me by Chase Utley. Chase is the person. But, yeah, I truly can bear in mind occasions after I first began enjoying in a league and my competitiveness would take over. I used to be 10-11 years previous and would get uncontrolled typically. My dad made certain that I grew out of that. He taught me not solely can I not try this, however why that’s not the proper factor to do. I bear in mind one time getting out, throwing my stuff down after which sitting within the nook of the dugout all on my own. I didn’t need to speak to my teammates. After that, my dad instructed me, ‘I don’t care the way you carry out. I don’t care what the outcomes are on the sector. I don’t care the way you do. The two issues I care about are your effort and your perspective.’ Ever since then, I’ve performed with that mentality. I separate how I’m doing as a baseball participant and ensuring that I’m controlling that effort and my perspective.

When you had been a child and your dad was teaching within the massive leagues, how a lot time did you spend round his groups?

Lombard: For 5 years, from 2016 till 2020, my dad coached for the Dodgers. When college completed, we might pack up and go to L.A. We had been with him the entire summer time. We traveled to street video games. I used to be on the sector each day messing round. I bear in mind enjoying video video games with Cody Bellinger. Another future Yankee was in L.A., Alex Verdugo. He’s a personality. He was nice to me. The man I watched probably the most was Corey Seager. He performs shortstop, I play shortstop. I discovered a ton watching Seager go about his enterprise. Teoscar Hernandez was one other man I discovered lots from. He can be out within the discipline and have me work with him on a regular basis.

That’s an enormous benefit for a child, isn’t it?

Lombard: One hundred percent. Having that have, being round that life-style and seeing how these guys work, simply watching and studying helped me a ton not solely within the baseball facet, however the massive leaguer a part of it.

Judge has a $360-million contract. He makes use of his cash and fame to assist numerous children in his ALL RISE Foundation. You obtained a pleasant seven-figure signing bonus from the Yankees as an 18-year-old. Down the street, you possibly can make much more and have an opportunity to make a giant distinction in your neighborhood. Is that one thing that you simply’ve already considered?

Lombard: That’s one thing my mother and father have all the time preached. It is a blessing to be in my incredible state of affairs. When you have got the flexibility to assist individuals which were much less lucky, it’s one thing that all the time brings me numerous pleasure. It’s one thing that I’ve already performed and I’ll proceed to do so long as I’m able to take action. I see numerous stuff that Judge and different gamers across the league do. I stay up for ultimately do issues like they do.

The school soccer nationwide championship recreation is arising. Miami is your hometown group, however Indiana has Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, a quarterback from Miami who is straightforward to root for as a result of he’s so good and so likable. Are you a Canes fan? Have you develop into a Mendoza fan?

Lombard: It’s actually cool to see what Mendoza’s doing, however I positively take into account myself a Canes fan as a result of I used to be born and raised in Miami. My brother is dedicated there, and I’ve received a bunch of buddies there that play baseball, so now I’ve extra of a connection. I’ve watched their entire run.

Your little brother Jacob is a fairly good shortstop, too, a projected excessive first-round decide this yr.

Lombard: I’m excited for him. He’s labored for this for a very very long time and he’s earned the whole lot. He’s put himself in a very great place.

You had been a two-sport standout in highschool. Give me a scouting report in your soccer abilities?

Lombard: Our group was actually good, so I had gamers that might belief round me. I used to be a middle again who positively was extra on the bodily facet than the super-technical facet. I used to be a great chief, a great captain of the group, a great voice. I made certain all our items had been in the proper spot. I might get bodily after I wanted to. I made certain that I used to be that final line of protection and no one was getting previous me.

Your mother performed soccer, too, proper? I’ve heard individuals say she is perhaps the perfect athlete within the household.

Lombard: She performed soccer, ran monitor and did gymnastics in highschool. She was an elite-level gymnast in school. She’s a very good athlete. She would throw baseballs to us once we had been little. Now she performs a ton of tennis, so we play numerous collectively. I’m a tennis fan. When I used to be little, our household went to the Miami Open yearly. I went to the U.S. Open final yr. That was actually cool.

What are your targets for this yr? You may begin the season again in Somerset. You’ll most likely be in Triple-A sooner or later, possibly early on. Who is aware of? Maybe you’ll get to the large leagues this yr.

Lombard: Keep doing my factor. Keep dealing with no matter will get thrown at me. And, yeah, we’ll see the place I find yourself.