New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. couldn't help but sing the praises of the team's top prospect, George Lombard Jr., while on his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset this week. Chisholm noted, "Even though Lombard only snagged a hit or two tonight, the way he barreled up almost every pitch was just impressive." It's clear Lombard has made a strong impression.
Lombard Jr., a 2023 first-round pick, had a modest start in his first full season with a .231/.338/.334 slash line in 497 plate appearances between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley. But 2025 has seen the right-handed infielder ramp up his game. Starting the season in Hudson Valley, Lombard decimated opposing pitchers, showcasing a .329/.495/.488 slash line over 111 plate appearances in 24 games.
His stellar performance earned him a bump up to Somerset at the beginning of May, where he's cut his teeth as the only teenager on the roster. Facing tougher competition, Lombard has experienced a bit of a reality check, batting .211/.370/.254 over 21 games and 92 plate appearances. However, Chisholm is looking past the raw numbers and focusing on Lombard's approach and talent.
"The stats might not tell the whole story," Chisholm remarked. "But when you watch a 19-year-old making every defensive play and consistently hitting the ball hard, it's exciting to think about his future in the big leagues. I can't wait to see him shine there."
Riding high as MLB Pipeline's top prospect in the Yankees' system and sitting at No. 44 overall, Lombard Jr. is making waves. As of entering the weekend, he holds impressive rankings among the Yankees' minor leaguers: first in on-base percentage (.438), second in stolen bases (18), fourth in wRC+ (146), and eighth in OPS (.818).
With baseball lineage in his veins as the son of Detroit Tigers bench coach and former MLB outfielder George Lombard, who played for six seasons, Lombard Jr. appears set to blaze his own trail and perhaps follow his father's footsteps into the majors sooner rather than later. The buzz around this young talent is hard to ignore as he aims to climb the ranks and make his mark.
