George Lombard Jr. gives the Yankees everything they’d been missing in dazzling debut

The Yankees have not referred to George Lombard Jr. as a savior of their season. The words “Derek Jeter” have yet to come out of Aaron Boone’s mouth when asked for comparison. The vision that the club’s manager laid out Tuesday, shortly after promoting the young shortstop, was for Lombard to “get settled here as seamlessly as possible and hopefully go out there and help us win ballgames.”

Read more George Lombard Jr.’s brother hits first pro homer minutes after Yankees prospect’s blast in eerie coincidence

And then Lombard authored the kind of debut that ensured the nearly impossible expectations, at least externally, will only grow.

In his first major league game, Lombard looked like the kind of immediate upgrade — with the bat and glove — who allows the Yankees and their fans to fantasize they have found their World Series shortstop for the present and the future.

The 21-year-old top prospect homered in his second big league at-bat, put on a show defensively and immediately displayed why he was untouchable at this and every trade deadline since joining the organization, contributing plenty to a 2-0 Yankees victory over the Cardinals.

There were 41,081 fans who watched a sweet swing and several slick defensive plays from Lombard. But if this game truly marks the start of a new Yankees era, there will be millions more who claim they witnessed the rise of Lombard firsthand.

“This is probably a moment, a swing, a day I won’t forget forever,” Lombard said after his team improved to 64-50 on the year and 1-0 in the Lombard Era, which will be remembered for that swing and a bit of defensive wizardry.

Lombard had struggled initially with the bat at every minor league affiliate before adjusting and conquering the level. At least for one game, he required only two at-bats to figure out big league pitching.

After a third-inning groundout, Lombard stepped up in the fifth inning and smoked a solo home run into the left field seats for his first hit, homer, RBI, run scored and electrifying moment in The Bronx.

“He’s strong,” Boone said after Hunter Dobbins’ 0-2 sweeper got too much of the plate and was redirected 392 feet for a 2-0 Yankees lead. “He knows what he wants to do. He knows his plan.”

Lombard allowed a small smile as he rounded the bases while his parents — who earlier in the night had celebrated the first professional home run from George’s brother, Jacob, in his debut with the Marlins’ Low-A affiliate — hugged in the stands. The home dugout exploded. Yankee Stadium found a new hero.

Read more Michigan primary voters deliver nail-biter finish in El-Sayed vs. Stevens Senate battle

And yet the kid, barely old enough to drink alcohol, whose reputation for maturity might be greater than his reputation for baseball excellence, did not show much emotion.

“Honestly, I felt pretty relaxed [during the game],” said the third-youngest Yankee (behind Jasson Domínguez and Johnny Ellis) in history to homer in his debut. “I think everybody around me, everyone here, helped me feel comfortable once I got here.”

To see the dangers of proclaiming Lombard as the rightful heir to Jeter, you just have to look at the last shortstop proclaimed as such, who was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with Tuesday’s corresponding move. A 2019 first-round pick, Anthony Volpe was the darling of the organization and the fanbase until he was not. In his fourth big league season, Volpe will have to prove himself in the minors to even make the case he can be a part-time player in The Bronx.

There are no guarantees, but the 2023 first-round pick wasted no time showing off tools that Volpe does not have in his toolbox.

Arguably more impressive than his home run was the second-inning ground ball that Blaze Jordan smacked into the hole, where Lombard took a few long steps and lunged.

“I didn’t realize he was that long,” said winning pitcher Ryan Weathers, who watched Lombard spear the ball with an extended backhand and throw with force to second while fading away. Jazz Chisholm Jr. caught it, turned and threw for a well-turned double play.

“Pretty special turn. You just see how fluid he is, how physical he is,” Boone added of the play, on which Lombard looked “like a puma.”

Add in a homer from Chisholm and nine shutout innings from Weathers, Fernando Cruz, Brent Headrick and David Bednar, and the Yankees seized a 10th victory in their past 16 games.

This one, though, felt different. Time will tell, but it felt as if it should be remembered.

“Obviously a great first night for him,” Boone said of his new shortstop. “The home run was great. The defense was tremendous.”

Read more Heavily-armed suspect filmed Trump security at California golf course as modified weapons, mugshot seen for first time