The New York Yankees could soon have a new full-time shortstop.
Starting shortstop Anthony Volpe will miss the beginning of the season due to an injury, as Jose Caballero will start in his place. Yet, once Volpe returns, he should split reps with Caballero, who’s a much better fielder than Volpe.
However, MLB insider Buster Olney of ESPN believes top prospect George Lombard Jr. could take over as the Yankees’ starting shortstop as soon as this summer.
“The Yankees also have another option, though: Their top prospect is shortstop George Lombard Jr., the 26th pick in the 2023 draft,” Olney wrote. “Some rival evaluators believe that Lombard — quick on his feet after years of playing soccer, with an excellent throwing arm — would be a high-end caliber defender now if he were in the big leagues. The unanswered question is his hitting. At 20 years old last season, he played most of the year for Double-A Somerset in the Eastern League, where he hit .215/.337/.358 after hitting .329 in High-A. …
“Lombard will return to Double-A at the start of the season, but depending on how his offense progresses, he could be a big league option later in the summer, as part of what could effectively turn into a multiplayer competition in New York at shortstop.”
Lombard is a slick fielder who needs to become a better hitter to be an impact player in the majors. But if Caballero’s bat and Volpe’s defense continue to struggle, Olney believes New York may make the move to promote Lombard sooner than many expect.
Yankees Coaching Staff ‘Loves’ Lombard
Although Lombard won’t make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, the coaching staff has plenty of praise for him.
Olney reports that Lombard has plenty of fans from the Yankees coaching staff, which could lead to his promotion, especially if Volpe struggles in his return.
“The coaching staff loves not only his athleticism, but also his focus,” Olney added. “James Rowson, the Yankees’ hitting coach, asked Lombard a question about what he wanted to accomplish this spring, and he paused and said, “Let me get back to you on that.” Later, he presented a well-rounded answer, and Rowson appreciated the thought investment.”
Lombard is expected to begin the year at Double-A. But if his bat starts off hot, he could move quickly to Triple-A and eventually to the MLB to be an impact player for the Yankees.
Volpe Provides Injury Update
Volpe had surgery on his partially torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder after the season.
The shortstop was expected to miss the beginning of the season, and ahead of Opening Day, he gave an update on his timeline.
“I guess it’s kind of a process, but I’m learning along the way,” Volpe said to YES Network. “I feel pretty good about where I’m at, progressing as expected, and kind of given the push and pull of them holding me back or me feeling really good. So I feel I am in a really good spot. I don’t know zero to 100 really where that is, but I’m excited about it…
“It’s just live at bats, just continuing the progression. There are still checkpoints that I’m not doing yet. So I’m really optimistic and excited, and I feel like it’s going to be sooner rather than later. But it’s just a natural progression of doing live at bats and getting into games and then seeing where that goes.”
Volpe isn’t expected to return to the lineup before May.
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