George Lombard Jr. stepped onto the field with a calm that belied his inexperience. The 22-year-old shortstop has just two MLB games under his belt, but his performance so far suggests he might be ready to stay.
Family legacy, first-round success
Lombard Jr. is part of a small but growing trend in the majors—sons of former players. His father, George Lombard Sr., had a brief MLB career in the 1990s. Now, two of Lombard's sons are first-round picks. Cody Bellinger, Ryan Weathers, and Aaron Boone are all in the Yankees’ clubhouse and understand the extra layer of expectation that comes with legacy.
Rotation reshuffle looms as Rodón nears return
Veteran lefty Carlos Rodón is nearing a return to the rotation after an early-season injury. That may force the Yankees to choose between keeping Ryan Weathers or Will Warren in the starting five. Weathers has been the more consistent arm lately, allowing just one run in 20.1 innings over his last six outings.
Warren has had just one strong start against the Cubs and has otherwise struggled compared to Weathers. If the Yankees go with Weathers, it would move him to the bullpen, where his breaking balls could play to his strengths.
Headrick becomes go-to arm for Boone
Lefty Brett Headrick has become one of the Yankees’ most reliable relievers. With a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a sharp slider, Headrick has found a role in high-leverage spots and against both righty and lefty hitters.
He’s currently having one of the ten most dominant relief seasons in franchise history, and though he doesn’t yet match Mason Miller’s velocity and movement, he’s close. Headrick’s impact has been immediate, with manager Aaron Boone clearly relying on him more as the season goes on.
Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón are taking simulated at-bats, Aaron Judge has been re-imaged and cleared for light workouts, and Clarke Schmidt is in the final phase of his rehab. If one or two of these stars return earlier than expected, the Yankees could make quick strides in a tight AL East race.