George Lombard Jr.’s development far from complete with Yankees set to test shortstop depth
With Anthony Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery and likely out until May, someone else will be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop for the first time since 2022.
There’s no reason to think George Lombard Jr. will replace Volpe, as Brian Cashman pointed out that the top prospect, ranked 25thth overall by MLB.com, is still in “development mode” as of earlier this month.
“He’s come a long way,” the general manager continued when asked about Lombard at the Winter Meetings. “He’s exciting. He’s got a lot of talent. The glove is ahead of the bat. So I guess that would be a better question to play with at the end of the 2026 season. I’ll have more information to play on. He could play defense in the big leagues right now, but he’s still developing on the hitting side.
“An exciting, high-end talent, but I don’t think he’s ready yet.”
Cashman’s assessment didn’t need to be said out loud, as Lombard endured growing pains in Double-A last season, hitting .215 with a .695 OPS, eight home runs, 36 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 108 games. His strikeout rate also jumped to 26.4% after his promotion to Somerset.
However, Lombard is only 20 years old. The average Double-A player is 3.5 years older.
With that in mind, Lombard, who impressed during big league spring training last year, will likely start the 2026 season in Somerset. There, the 2023 first-round pick will attempt to get his bat level with his glove.
With a good season, Lombard could jump into the starting shortstop conversation down the road, especially if Volpe continues to disappoint once he gets healthy. However, Lombard isn’t the only highly touted shortstop in New York’s farm system, as there’s also 2025 first-rounder Dax Kilby, among others.
For now – and barring an external addition – José Caballero is the most likely candidate to start at shortstop while Volpe heals.
Acquired from the Rays last season, the super utilityman pushed Volpe for playing time and replaced him after the starter’s shoulder required a cortisone injection. Caballero hit .266 with an .828 OPS, three home runs, nine RBIs and 15 stolen bases as a Yankee. Overall, he led the majors with 49 stolen bases, and his .339 on-base percentage, .686 OPS, and 97 wRC+ were all better than Volpe’s marks (.272 OBP, .663 OPS, 83 wRC+).
If Caballero plays well early next season, there will be calls for him to supplant Volpe at shortstop.
Aaron Boone described Caballero as a “10th ” and believes there is strategic value in using the speedster off the bench, and the manager and Cashman have maintained their belief that Volpe can become a consistent contributor. However, Cashman has not ruled out the possibility of Caballero commandeering the shortstop position while Volpe is on the board.
“Do I believe in Anthony Volpe? The answer is yes. Do I believe Caballero has a lot of talent? The answer is yes,” Cashman said before adding: “I have no idea where things can go. The game separates everything, the men from the boys, and dictates who should and who shouldn’t play over time.
“People either keep earning their playing time or not. In some cases, if you don’t have an alternative, someone stays that way and keeps playing unless you import something else. But if it’s a competition between the guys at the club, let the best guy win and keep it.”
With Volpe out, Oswaldo Cabrera, another versatile player, could also see time at shortstop. At the Winter Meetings, Boone said Cabrera was in Tampa preparing to step up his training after his 2025 campaign ended with a gruesome ankle fracture in May.
