BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Anthony Volpe stepped into the batter’s box at TD Bank Ballpark on Tuesday night for the first time since October. He struck out twice, handled one routine ground ball and was pulled after five innings. It was about as quiet a debut as a Yankees rehab assignment can produce.
The name generating buzz that evening was not Volpe’s. It was George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ top-ranked prospect, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Double-A Somerset’s 9-6 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils. Lombard ripped a first-pitch double to right-center off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, then followed up with an RBI single in the seventh. Before the night ended, Wheeler was talking about him to reporters.
Volpe checks in healthy in first Yankees rehab game since October
Volpe’s two at-bats came against Wheeler, who was making his fourth Double-A rehab start for Reading as he recovers from surgeries for a blood clot and thoracic outlet syndrome. The Yankees shortstop went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts at the plate and handled one fielding chance cleanly, a 6-3 groundout in the fourth, before exiting after five innings.
The modest Yankees box score was the point. Volpe underwent surgery in October to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury that first surfaced on May 3, 2025, and wore him through the rest of that Yankees season. His return to game action, even an uneventful one, represented a tangible step forward.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman has outlined the path back. Volpe needs roughly 55 plate appearances in the minors and consistent time at shortstop before the Yankees bring him back to the big league roster. Tuesday was plate appearance one and two.
Playing close to his hometown of Watchung, N.J., Volpe made no effort to downplay what a healthy return meant to him.
“It’s a big milestone, a big checkpoint,” Volpe said after the game. “It felt good to get back out there. I just can’t wait to get back out there. Putting everything behind me and having a fresh start, a healthy start, is really exciting.”
Lombard doubles off Wheeler, earns praise from a three-time All-Star
Wheeler retired Lombard on a strikeout and a flyout in his first two plate appearances. In the sixth inning, Lombard got a third look and drove the first pitch to right-center for an RBI double. One inning later he singled in another run to push the lead to 7-3. Wheeler, who struck out nine and allowed three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings, spoke to reporters and steered the conversation toward the 20-year-old Yankees prospect.
An unprompted endorsement from a pitcher of Wheeler’s standing carries real weight, and his words were unambiguous. For the Yankees, having an elite starter volunteer to scout their top prospect favorably is the kind of external validation that front offices notice.
“He was taking good swings all night,” Wheeler told reporters. “You could tell he’s a good, strong kid. He has a good bat path. He’s gonna be a good player. Hopefully I don’t have to face him too much.”
Hot streak at Double-A adds to Lombard’s growing case
Tuesday’s performance was not a one-off. Lombard entered the game hitting .464/.531/.857 over a seven-game stretch, with two home runs and four RBIs. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound infielder also made his first career professional start at third base Tuesday to accommodate Volpe’s presence at shortstop. When Volpe exited in the sixth, Lombard shifted back to his natural position.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone assessed Lombard’s development in March. His comments pointed to the offensive side as the final piece still falling into place.
“He’s just impressive physically,” Boone said. “He keeps filling out and you notice another level every year. He gives you a really good at-bat, knows the zone and is very disciplined and focused. The last thing for him is to continue to develop the hit tool to finish off the player.”
That hit tool is developing fast in the Yankees system. Lombard hit a spring training home run off Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet and has continued that production into the regular season at Double-A. Volpe, who watched Lombard play beside him, offered a simple summary after the game.
“I thought he looked great,” Volpe said. “He made great plays in the field, good at-bats and smoked that ball to right.”
For the Yankees, Tuesday produced two stories on parallel tracks. Volpe is on the road back. Lombard, meanwhile, is making a case that the Yankees have found someone who can handle the biggest stages. When the Yankees are ready for him, he may well be ready for them.
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