JUST-IN: Significant Boost As “Yankees’ Top Prospect Dominates MLB Arms – Is He Already Ready for the Show?”

Even if George Lombard Jr. had struck out against Phillies ace Zach Wheeler on Tuesday, it would still have been a valuable at-bat for the Yankees’ top prospect.

At just 19 years old, Lombard is still in the early stages of his development. Last season marked his first full year in the Yankees’ system, ending with a stint at High-A Hudson Valley. With plenty of steps ahead—through Double-A, Triple-A, and eventually the major leagues—Lombard has a long journey ahead of him.

Just the opportunity to face a pitcher of Wheeler’s caliber is invaluable for a player like Lombard. That’s exactly why getting the chance to play in big-league camp is so important.

However, Lombard wasn’t looking for a moral victory against Wheeler on Tuesday. He entered his first at-bat with a plan, and he executed it perfectly. He immediately made his mark by jumping on a first-pitch sinker from the two-time All-Star, lining a single into right field at 106.4 mph. It was the hardest-hit ball of the game for the Yankees in their 12-3 blowout over Philadelphia.

This comes after Lombard’s second home run of the spring on Monday night—a no-doubt blast to left at Steinbrenner Field. With another single later in Tuesday’s win, Lombard is now 5-for-15 this spring with an impressive 1.145 OPS.

George Lombard Jr.

I feel good, I feel comfortable,” Lombard told reporters after the game at BayCare Ballpark. “I feel like my swing is in a pretty good spot right now. It’s still baseball. They’re still throwing from the same mound, so I just go out there, stick to my plan, and put a good swing on it.”

Lombard is known for his remarkable makeup, something that likely comes from growing up around MLB clubhouses. His father, George Lombard, played six seasons in the majors before transitioning to coaching. He’s currently the Tigers’ bench coach and previously won a World Series with the Dodgers in 2020.

When asked about the growing buzz around him this spring, Lombard acknowledged it but made it clear that it wasn’t distracting him from his goals. “That’s really not what I’m focused on right now,” he said. “It’s still early in spring. I’ve got a lot of time left. My goal is just to keep doing what I’m doing, stay focused on my work, and try to learn something new every single day. I’m really just trying to get better here.”