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With the promotion of George Lombard Jr to Triple-A last night, which was first announced by YES Network’s Jack Curry, not only does it signal Lombard being one step closer to the big leagues, but it also shows how the future infield could look beyond 2026.

Lombard Jr, who’s just 20 years old and is the Yankees’ number one-ranked prospect, can play shortstop and third base, and is best known for his athletic ability, primarily his glove and range in the middle infield. But Lombard’s promotion to Triple A, not even a full month into the minor league season, is because of what he’s been doing with the bat.

Lombard Jr Off To Hot Start At The Plate In Double A

Lombard, in just 20 games at Double A Somerset to begin the 2026 season, is hitting for a .312 batting average with 4 home runs, 10 RBI’s, and a .971 OPS. Curry highlighted in last night’s report how “the Yankees believe he’s MLB-ready right now defensively, but the only thing left to develop is the bat”, stated Curry. 

Well, so far so good. The Yankees’ current shortstop is Jose Caballero, who they acquired at last year’s trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays. Caballero, who’s 29 years old, is a contact-oriented right-handed utility player who can play infield and outfield, but is right now doing an exceptional job for the Yankees in the field, at the plate, and on the base paths. After getting off to a dreadful start, Caballero in his last 15 games is hitting for a .352 batting average with 3 home runs, 7 RBI’s, and a near 400 on base percentage.

While Caballero’s underlying metrics right now, per Baseball Savant, hint that this current offensive production from him doesn’t look to be sustainable for much of the season, Caballero, regardless, has still earned every bit of playing time with how he’s been performing of late. He’s been a plus defender with well-above-average sprint speed and an aggressive mindset on the basepaths.

Ryan McMahon is the Yankees’ current third baseman, and while he’s started to hit a bit better of late, he has been very disappointing to start the season at the plate, posting a .539 OPS in 28 games. McMahon, however, is considered to be one of the better defensive third basemen in all of baseball with incredible range at the position.

Anthony Volpe Is Still Rehabbing From Shoulder Injury

Shortstop Anthony Volpe is currently still on a rehab assignment. However, he could be back with the Yankees sometime before or during this upcoming Yankees homestand on Friday, in which they play the Orioles and then the Rangers, according to Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch.

So, where does this leave Lombard in all of this? Curry mentioned in his report last night that if Lombard keeps up this offensive production in Triple-A, he “could be in play” for an earlier-than-expected promotion later in the year. Lombard could play either short or third, where the Yankees have had struggles with McMahon and Volpe. Curry says Lombard will get reps at “shortstop and third base in Triple A”.

McMahon still has 16 million dollars owed to him by the Yankees this year and next year, according to Spotrac, so it seems unlikely that the Yankees would cut ties and eat the remainder of that contract at this current point, unless McMahon’s offensive struggles continue well into 2027.

Volpe has been with the Yankees since 2023, and he turned 25 yesterday. Volpe dealt with a shoulder injury and offseason surgery that plagued him last season, but from 2023 to 2025, Volpe has been a .660 OPS hitter who strikes out way too much (25.2%), per Baseball Savant, and doesn’t get on base nearly enough to utilize his greatest tool: his speed.

Time is running out for Volpe with a Yankees organization that has been plenty patient throughout his development process the last several years. It’s also worth noting that Jazz Chisholm jr is a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, and considering Volpe doesn’t have the greatest arm strength for the position, and has regressed there defensively dating back to last season, they could try moving Volpe to second base and make Lombard the everyday shortstop.

While much of this is speculation for the time being, it makes for interesting conversations as Lombard is one step closer to the Yankees’ infield plans, which could be impactful as soon as 2027, if not at some point this year in 2026, maybe sooner than we expect.