The New York Yankees aren’t ready to give up on Anthony Volpe just yet, but they can’t ignore what’s coming behind him. A new name is starting to buzz around the organization — George Lombard Jr., a 20-year-old shortstop with polish beyond his years and the kind of raw tools that make player development staffs pay attention.

Volpe is recovering from shoulder surgery and expected to miss the start of 2026, which gives the Yankees time to evaluate both their present and their future. That future might be closer than anyone thinks.

A fast rise through the system

Lombard Jr. wasted no time turning heads this past season, earning a mid-year promotion from High-A Hudson Valley to Double-A Somerset. His first 24 games in Hudson Valley were exceptional — a .329 average with a .495 on-base perce

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