The Yankees have one of the most coveted prospects in all of baseball sitting at Double A. George Lombard Jr., an infield prospect that the Yankees drafted in the first round of the 2023 draft, is off to a great start in AA, and is one of the Yankees rising prospects. It’s time for the Yankees to move him to AAA.
Benefits to Lombard going to AAA
As of the morning of April 15th, Lombard Jr. is slashing .469/.528/1.372 with two home runs over 32 at-bats. This includes getting a huge two-run double in Tuesday’s game against perennial Cy Young winner Zack Wheeler.
George Lombard Jr. laces his EIGHTH EXTRA BASE HIT OF THE SEASON off Zack Wheeler to get Somerset on the board!!!🔥 pic.twitter.com/iZTFvdKBH9
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 15, 2026
“He was taking good swings all night,” Wheeler told reporters after his outing. “You could tell he’s a good, strong kid. He has a good bat path. He’s gonna be a good player. Hopefully I don’t have to face him too much.”
That’s a lot of high praise from a starter of Wheeler’s calaber. The praise did not stop with him. Current Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who is rehabbing from his shouler injury from last season, also added some praise. “I thought he looked great,” He said. “He made great plays in the field, good at-bats and smoked that ball to right [field]. “He’s a really hard worker, really great kid. It’s gonna be really exciting.”
Lombard Jr.’s bat coming into 2026 was the biggest question about his game. The Yankees have admitted that he is already an MLB-calaber defender, including putting on a clinic at third base this week.
George Lombard Jr. … third baseman!?!
MLB’s No. 27 prospect (@Yankees) makes a slick play during his first pro start at the hot corner for the Double-A @SOMPatriots. pic.twitter.com/3ur15X3HTg
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 15, 2026
It’s also notable that Lombard Jr. has seen an increase in power at the start of MiLB’s 2026 season. That will play at the MLB level for sure, but he also has a solid contact approach at the plate.
It’s now time for the Yankees to give him a look at AAA to see if this hot start translates. Last season, the start he got off to at High-A Hudson Valley did not translate to AA till the end of the season. His overall numbers were not great last season. That is the benefit the Yankees would have to moving him to AAA soon to get a larger sample size.
Could Lombard Impact the Yankees in 2026?
With the way the Yankees third base situation has looked thus far, Lombard could impact the roster in 2026. It might not be likely, but there is a chance. If Lombard Jr. is promoted to AAA sooner rather than later, it would increase the chances that we see him in the Bronx during the summer.
At this point, even with him at AA still, he is entering the conversation to be called up right now. If Lombard Jr. can prove over the next few weeks/months that his progress offensively is sustainable, he could be a better option than Ryan McMahon.
For Lombard Jr., the future is clearly bright. He has all the ability and tools to be a high impact player on an MLB roster, and could be a star. Now, Lombard Jr. controls his own destiny.
(Top Image Credit: © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images)
