Somerset's bats silent in disappointing prospect debut

For all those foolish New York Yankees supporters demanding he gets an immediate ticket to the Bronx, top prospect George Lombard, Jr., demonstrated why that won’t be happening this season.

The young shortstop, at 19 years old, did not make a significant impact in his first game at the Double-A level.

On Tuesday evening, Lombard had one hit in four at-bats and struck out twice in his debut game for Somerset, as their team was shutout 3-0 by Akron.

And that’s fine. That is what a teenager who was drafted less than two years ago should be doing – learning.

Lombard was elevated this week following a impressive beginning at High-A In Hudson Valley, he achieved an impressive batting average of .329 along with a remarkable on-base percentage of .495. He also secured 11 stolen bases and had more walks than strikeouts over the course of 24 games. This level of plate discipline has left the Yankees optimistic about his prospects moving forward. However, Tuesday evening highlighted potential challenges at the Double-A level, where pitchers demonstrate superior control and strategic pitch sequences.

Nevertheless, it’s difficult not to notice how refined Lombard appears for someone of his years. The Yankees picked him 26th overall in the 2023 draft, and he has already garnered acclaim from scouts as well as major league players like Aaron Judge. in spring training, referred to as him “something special.”

On Monday evening, Aaron Boone expressed enthusiasm regarding Lombard’s advancement.

He has excellent judgment and is passionate about the sport, works very hard, shows intelligence, and plays intelligently, Boone said on Monday. Throughout these past couple of years, you've watched him gradually transform into a mature individual with a robust physique.

However, Lombard won't turn 20 until next month, making it impractical for the fans to demand his promotion as a replacement during Jazz Chisholm, Jr.'s absence. If the Yankees decide to have him begin at Triple-A in September, he might get some experience this year; otherwise, an eventual call-up could happen in 2026.

First, though, Lombard needs to defeat Double-A.

Tuesday served as yet another reminder that even the most gifted prospects can't bypass necessary stages.

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