If you’re going to pull off a remarkable little feat of creative defensive wizardry, doing so when someone from the home office is down on the farm observing is probably a good idea. Thankfully, New York Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. saved something special for when Jazz Chisholm was by his side in Somerset on Thursday night.
With Chisholm stationed at third and a runner on first base behind fellow rehabber JT Brubaker, Lombard Jr. let an infield pop drop, then rifled the ball to first base. The first baseman then hucked it down to second after the runner, caught in-between, had started his sprint.
Scripted? Who can say? The announcers certainly weren’t sure, either. Regardless, Lombard Jr.’s quick thinking and slick throw to first kickstarted a shortcut out of the inning, as Chisholm stood on, impressed.
Four shutout for Brubaker, too. Don’t think we didn’t notice that.
Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr.’s latest dazzling feat had a celebrity attendee
No. 2 in pinstripes pulling off something creative and wise-beyond-his-years at shortstop? You don’t say.
Lombard Jr. started this season with plenty of prospect pedigree, but his star has only risen among appraisers since the year began. Baseball America remains his high-water mark, as he ranks 23rd on their most recent Top 100 list. Still, zero analysts are truly split; he ranks in the top 50 of every widely acknowledged publication entering the summer months.
Who knows? His initially estimated arrival in the big leagues was 2027, but that target date seems to be moving closer with every head-turning play. He might even be the man to formally supplant Chisholm himself at third base next season, sending Jazz to his natural position at second.
For now, you can see Lombard Jr. ranging deep in the hole with the Somerset Patriots six times per week, with a potential taste of Triple-A coming late in the year. While the 19-year-old has spent some time adjusting to Double-A pitching, his keen eye hasn’t wavered; he’s batting .206 at the level, but with a remarkable .356 OBP.
Clearly, his defense and creativity haven’t lost a step, either.
