George Lombard Jr. garnered praise at Spring Training for his Major League-level defense at shortstop. He tested those skills at a new spot on Tuesday.
With Anthony Volpe manning shortstop as he rehabs a left-shoulder injury, MLB’s No. 27 prospect started at third base for the first time as a pro in Double-A Somerset’s 9-6 victory over Reading at TD Bank Ballpark.
Lombard Jr. recorded two putouts, three assists and made one error across five innings at the hot corner. He moved back to shortstop when Volpe exited the game in the sixth.
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Lombard’s error, the lone blemish in his third-base debut, came on a bounding ball in the fourth. The 20-year-old read the ball perfectly, scooped it a few inches behind the base and, while on the run, fired to first. The throw skipped on the infield grass and past the outstretched glove of first baseman Coby Morales, and two runs scored on the play.
But the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect acquitted himself well one frame later when Dante Nori (PHI No. 7) sent a ground ball his way. Lombard ranged to his left, flashed the leather, gathered his feet and delivered a dart to Morales for the putout.
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While Lombard’s night represented a new challenge defensively, offensively it was the status quo. The 2023 first-rounder collected two knocks and plated two runs, including an RBI double off rehabbing Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler. The night raised his slash line to .469/.528/.844 through eight games and extended Lombard’s hit streak to four contests.
The son of former big leaguer George Lombard has been pushed aggressively through the Minors because of his high baseball IQ and maturity on the diamond. He played 108 games at Double-A last season as one of the youngest players at the level and posted a middling .695 OPS.
To start 2026, it has been a different story. Lombard launched a homer in his first at-bat of the year and finished his season debut with a career-high five hits and a stolen base on April 3. Three games later, he left the yard again in a three-hit performance
The 6-foot-2 Florida native has recorded a hit in all but one game to start his campaign. Not only that, but he has drawn four walks while striking out four times.
It’s likely that Lombard will slide back to the six once Volpe returns to the bigs, but for now, he’s added a new feather to his cap.