The New York Yankees got some good news on their top prospect this week. George Lombard Jr., the organization’s No. 1-ranked guy, started a rehab assignment Monday after spraining his fingers in a Triple-A game back in mid-June. The shortstop is now closer to getting back on the field for the second half of the season.
Medical tests showed no fracture or serious damage, which was a relief. Lombard has already started swinging the bat and doing defensive work again. The Yankees are going to keep watching how his hand responds before making any decisions about what comes next.
A Quick Stop Before Triple-A
Expect a short stay at the complex level first. From there, he’ll head back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The rehab assignment is really about getting his timing back. Facing advanced pitching again after an injury is no joke, and the organization wants to make sure he’s locked in before they even think about a promotion.
If Lombard looks like himself and the injury isn’t bothering him, a call-up to the Bronx could happen well before September roster expansion. That’s not just fan speculation either. The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty reported that his recovery could actually speed up his path to the majors.
Cashman Sounds Optimistic
Yankees GM Brian Cashman didn’t shut down the idea of Lombard playing in New York this season. In fact, he left the door wide open.
“He’s been pushing himself before the injury,” Cashman said last week. “Definitely was thriving and conquering the final level.”
Then he added: “Looking forward to getting him back and active. He might be a choice at some point.”
That kind of talk from Cashman tells you the front office still believes in Lombard’s development despite the setback. The question now is whether his timing, health, and production come back fast enough to force the issue.
Lombard remains the Yankees’ top prospect and their most interesting internal option at shortstop. How he performs once he’s back in Triple-A will probably decide how soon he enters the major league conversation. If he picks up where he left off, he could give the Yankees a real boost during their second-half push toward October.
Leave a Comment