Yankees’ George Lombard Jr. Shines in Minor Leagues

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. — George Lombard Jr., the top prospect in the New York Yankees minor league system, continues to impress with his performance on the field. In a recent game on Saturday, Lombard recorded his second three-hit game of the season, raising his batting average to .329 over 24 games.

The 20-year-old shortstop has returned to the Hudson Valley Renegades after a successful major league spring training, boasting an impressive on-base percentage of .495 and a slugging percentage of .983. His 11 stolen bases, 22 runs scored, and a weighted runs created (wRC+) of 184 lead the entire Yankees farm system, as of Sunday.

“I think the upside is huge,” said Yankees director of hitting Jarret DeHart. “He’s just scratching the surface of how good he can be, which is really, really exciting.” DeHart noted Lombard’s capacity to make adjustments quickly, a skill he has honed since being drafted by the Yankees in the first round in 2023.

Lombard’s background includes extensive experience in high-level soccer at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, and he has only played 123 baseball games professionally before this season. “He had a small sample of baseball relative to a lot of other guys,” DeHart explained. “We all know he’s a special athlete, but I was really curious to see over time how he would adapt.”

Team manager James Cooper has watched Lombard develop since he was drafted. “He’s way more physical now than he was two years ago,” Cooper said. The young player has been committed to improving his strength and fitness in order to be available for every game.

Lombard emphasized the importance of preparation and experience to his development. “I’ve been around the game a lot and know how the game works,” he said. “Now, after having finished my first year and knowing how things go, I have more overall experience of knowing what it takes on a day-to-day basis.”

As the Yankees organization closely monitors Lombard’s progress, it is clear they have high hopes for his future. “Patience is required with a player his age,” DeHart noted, but if Lombard continues his current performance, he may not stay in High-A for long.