ARLINGTON, Texas – George Lombard Jr. is suddenly on the doorstep of the big leagues.
The Yankees have promoted their top prospect to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a source confirmed on Tuesday night, after he crushed the first month of the season at Double-A Somerset.
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Try it freeLombard, who turns 21 on June 2, was batting .312 with a .971 OPS in 20 games at Somerset after going through some growing pains in 108 games there last year.
The Yankees believe that the shortstop – who has also played some occasional third base – is already ready defensively for the big leagues, but they wanted to see his bat catch up to his glove, which earned him the early-season promotion.
“He’s a guy that’s going to play elite defense at third, shortstop, wherever,” Aaron Judge said after a 3-2 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field. “And then at the plate, uses the whole field, great contact hitter but he’s got some juice behind it. He’s going to continue to grow and get stronger and continue to develop into that power a little bit. But just seeing the consistency at the plate of good at-bats at such a young age – I couldn’t imagine being his age in spring training with the New York Yankees.
Somerset Patriots shortstop George Lombard Jr. scores during a game against the Reading Fightin’ Phils. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post“The composure he has, he’s built for New York. Excited for him to get up to Triple-A and hopefully continue that success he had in Double-A.”
Lombard has impressed in each of the last two springs, as a non-roster invite to big league camp, both with his talent and his makeup – which members of the organization have often described as “off the charts” from the son of a former big leaguer and current Tigers bench coach.
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“Love the player, love the person,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I think it’s good timing to get him up to Triple-A.”
The next question is how soon Lombard might take the final step to The Bronx.
That will depend on his play at Triple-A, along with what the Yankees are getting at shortstop, where Anthony Volpe is on the verge of returning from the IL in a crucial Year 4, and third base, where Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario have formed a platoon to mixed results.
