George Lombard Jr. has taken a few lumps in the field, and that was enough for the noise to start. That’s the reality when you’re a Yankees prospect: even a brief rough patch can bring the critics swarming.
One of the loudest shots came from WFAN host Paul Rosenberg, who tried to kick up a Yankees-Mets debate by comparing Lombard Jr. to Carson Benge.
"Carson Benge is a better player than George Lombard Jr. More dynamic, better in field, better at plate," Rosenberg wrote.
"If Benge was playing in the Bronx, Yankees fans would think he's the second coming of Mickey Mantle. Mets fans have to be thrilled."
Uncomfortable conversations...maybe
Carson Benge is a better player than George Lombard Jr. More dynamic, better in field, better at plate.
If Benge was playing in the Bronx, Yankees fans would think he's the second coming of Mickey Mantle.
Mets fans have to be thrilled. #LGM
- Paul Rosenberg aka (Rosie//Glue) (@PaulsRandomness) August 24, 2026
Rosenberg is obviously coming at this from a Mets angle, and the timing makes the whole thing feel especially strange. As of the close of business on August 27, the Mets were 60-74, 17 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and 10.5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot. This is what $380 million got them.
Their outlook doesn’t exactly brighten the picture, either. The Mets have a long list of needs and not much money coming off the books this offseason, which means any attempt to retool could make that huge payroll even bigger.
Benge has been one of the few positives. The 23-year-old is hitting .282/.342/.431 with 16 homers and 19 steals, and he’s posted 3.2 fWAR while mostly playing right field. That production has pushed him into the middle of the NL Rookie of the Year conversation.
Still, the comparison Rosenberg pushed doesn’t really hold up if you look at what each player has done so far.
Lombard Jr. is almost two and a half years younger than Benge. At the same age, Benge was still at Oklahoma State University, while Lombard Jr. went straight from high school to pro ball. The fact that Lombard Jr. hasn’t been swallowed up by the challenge is part of the story here.
The early results matter, too. Benge was rough in the first month, putting up a .525 OPS over his first 27 games. Lombard Jr. came out much better and, even after cooling off lately, still owns a .740 OPS through his first 18 games.
Then there’s the position. Shortstop carries far more defensive value than right field, and the Yankees’ roster context matters here as well.
They didn’t need another right fielder, especially with their best one set to return from the IL. What they needed was a shortstop.
That’s why the whole comparison feels forced. Both players are good young talents with bright futures, and there’s no reason to turn one into a punching bag just to prop up the other. Lombard Jr. is in the middle of a small rough patch, and Rosenberg’s take reads less like analysis than sour grapes from a bitter Mets fan.
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