Breakout minor league season puts Yankees prospect in national spotlight
George Lombard Jr. will make his debut on the national stage next month. The Yankees' former first-round draft pick has been named to the 2025 MLB Futures Game roster.
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Lombard, the Yankees' first-round pick in 2023 (26th overall), joins a star-studded American League squad that features 11 other former first-round selections. He's one of nine players chosen from the top 22 overall prospects in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and his inclusion signals how quickly his stock has climbed since being drafted just over a year ago.
New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard, Jr.Dave Nelson-Imagn Images
Lombard Jr. didn't need long to make his mark in High-A. In just 24 games with Hudson Valley, the 20-year-old shortstop slashed .329/.495/.488, showing off the kind of advanced plate discipline that rarely sticks around that level. He walked 23 times and struck out just 22. Add in 11 stolen bases and it was pretty clear he was ready for the next step.
The Yankees bumped Lombard up to Double-A Somerset on May 6, and while the power hasn't quite come with him yet, the bat has still played. Through his first 48 games in the Eastern League, he's hitting .279 with a .340 OBP and two home runs. He's swiped 14 more bags and continues to flash smooth defense at short—earning a nod to the 2025 Futures Game roster in the process.
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His most recent highlight? A homer on June 20 and a game-saving throw from the hole on June 27 that helped Somerset lock up a win. He's still growing into his game, but the tools are loud, the instincts are sharp, and he's doing everything you'd want from a 20-year -old shortstop on the fast track.
This marks Lombard's second major showcase appearance of the year, following his participation in MLB's Spring Breakout event
Related: Could These Pitching Prospects Be the Key to Deadline Deals?
Related: Yankees Fans Love This Prospect as Rival Teams Eye Him in a Trade
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
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