TAMPA — The Yankees have spent the primary few weeks raving about George Lombard Jr.’s make-up, work ethic and protection.
Then the highest infield prospect went out Saturday and provided a sneak peek at his offensive potential, too.
Lombard crushed a no-doubt, 414-foot dwelling run excessive off the scoreboard in left subject throughout Saturday’s 9-3 win over the Astros at Steinbrenner Discipline, persevering with a pleasant camp for the 2023 first-round decide.
“He’s been terrific,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “He’s actually so good defensively, particular. He’s had loads of good at-bats these days. His final two at-bats, he’s hit balls rather well into the gaps that middle fielders run down. This one he hit the place the grass doesn’t develop. So I mentioned, ‘Quit hitting them at them, you gotta hit it over them.’ It was a no-doubter.
“You see a young, physical kid continuing to develop into his body. Unbelievable makeup and work ethic and just a really talented athlete. He’s an exciting player with an exciting future.”
The Yankees drafted Lombard out of highschool as a shortstop, however they’ve had him bouncing across the infield this spring, including in second base and third base.
He break up time between shortstop and second final 12 months in his first full season within the group, partially as a result of he was teammates with Roderick Arias, one other shortstop prospect.
After all, the Yankees anticipate to have Anthony Volpe entrenched at shortstop for the foreseeable future, however Lombard has a while earlier than he would possibly be a part of him in The Bronx.
“Once you get to the big leagues, when you’re playing for the New York Yankees and you’re competing for a championship, you go out there and play wherever it can help the team win,” Lombard mentioned.
In 81 video games at Single-A Tampa and 29 video games at Excessive-A Hudson Valley final 12 months, Lombard mixed to hit .231 with a .672 OPS and 39 steals.
He’s prone to start this season again at Excessive-A, however will take with him the teachings he has discovered from his first huge league camp.
The 19-year-old Lombard isn’t any stranger to being in a giant league clubhouse, together with his dad, George Lombard Sr., a former participant and present bench coach with the Tigers (after beforehand spending time on the Dodgers’ workers).
However this spring, he has soaked within the expertise much more, relishing talks with the likes of Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger and gaining “some notes to save for later.”
“Wow, really impressed,” Aaron Choose mentioned. “He’s stepped right in and owned it all. He’s a hard worker, just like his dad. I know his dad was a hard worker as well and probably instilled that in him. But excited about his future.”
