Yankees send No. 2 rookie to minors, keep No. 3 waiting for major decision

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The Yankees made a significant roster move this weekend, reassigning shortstop George Lombard Jr., their No. 2 prospect (as per MLB.com), to minor league camp despite an impressive spring showing. Meanwhile, outfielder Spencer Jones, the organization’s No. 3 prospect, remains with the major league club as Opening Day decisions loom.

Lombard Jr. leaves strong impression on Yankees

Lombard Jr., just 19 and the youngest player invited to Yankees camp, departs after making a substantial impact that belied his age and experience level. The non-roster invitee hit .294 with two home runs and posted a 1.015 OPS across nine spring appearances.

His standout moment came March 4 against Philadelphia when he ripped a 106.4 mph single off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler — the hardest-hit ball by any Yankee in their 12-3 victory.

Lombard Jr. attributed his success to preparedness: “I knew he was going to come after me. He wasn’t going to get cute, so I was ready to go from the first pitch.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has noted Lombard Jr.’s advanced baseball instincts, particularly his defensive abilities at shortstop where his above-average speed, fluid hands, and decision-making have drawn comparisons to elite defenders.

The reassignment was expected despite his spring performance. Lombard Jr. spent most of 2024 at Single-A Tampa, slashing .232/.344/.348 with five home runs and 30 stolen bases in 81 games before a late-season promotion to High-A Hudson Valley.

“There are a lot of very simple things that go unnoticed, like how you go after balls or how you decide to play balls,” Lombard said. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s something all the really good players are good at—guys like Andrelton Simmons or Brandon Crawford.”

His offensive development has focused on swing simplification, working to reduce unnecessary movement for better consistency. While his conventional statistics in 2024 weren’t eye-catching, his advanced metrics indicated significant untapped potential that became evident this spring.

Yankees ponder over Jones’ MLB debut

While Lombard Jr. heads to the minors, Jones remains in consideration for an Opening Day roster spot. The 23-year-old outfielder has showcased the rare blend of size, power, and athleticism that has made him one of baseball’s most intriguing prospects.

Standing 6-foot-6, Jones possesses elite raw power complemented by surprising speed, having stolen 68 bases over the past two minor league seasons. His spring performance has been impressive, going 6-for-14 with two home runs and two doubles through his first six appearances.

The biggest question surrounding Jones has been plate discipline. In 2024, he struck out 200 times at Double-A Somerset, the second-highest total in minor league baseball. His 40% swing-and-miss rate presented a significant obstacle to major league readiness.

To address these concerns, Jones has worked extensively on his batting mechanics, focusing particularly on body control during his swing.

“Most of the changes I’m making this season and going back into this offseason is about moving my body as a unit,” Jones explained. “In the past, I’d tell myself to swing, and I’d have too much slack in my body.”

This refined approach appears to be paying dividends this spring, with Jones describing himself as feeling “dangerous” at the plate — an assessment supported by his performance thus far.

Roster decisions forthcoming

The divergent paths of these top prospects highlight the Yankees’ enviable depth of young talent as they prepare for their March 27 home opener against Milwaukee.

For Jones, the next two weeks will be crucial in determining whether he breaks camp with the big club or begins the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees‘ current outfield configuration presents challenges for immediate playing time, but injuries and the need for bench flexibility could create an opportunity as the team finalizes its roster before Opening Day.

Baseball America’s latest prospect rankings place Lombard Jr. at No. 28 overall in baseball, while Jones ranks No. 55, underscoring the significance of these developing talents to the Yankees’ future plans.

According to team sources, the organization is carefully weighing immediate needs against long-term development goals, particularly with Jones, whose combination of power and speed could provide valuable depth for a team with championship aspirations.

The Yankees’ farm system has risen to among baseball’s elite over the past two seasons, ranked fifth overall by Baseball America entering 2025. The emergence of Lombard Jr. and Jones, along with top prospect Jasson Dominguez, represents a potential homegrown core that could supplement the team’s star-studded roster for years to come.

With payroll constraints increasingly affecting roster construction across baseball, the development of cost-controlled talent has become paramount for sustained success. The Yankees’ handling of prospects like Lombard Jr. and Jones demonstrates their commitment to balancing present competitiveness with future stability.

As the Yankees finalize preparations for the 2025 campaign, the organization’s prospect pipeline continues to strengthen their position as perennial contenders. Whether Jones breaks camp with the major league team or follows Lombard Jr. to the minors for additional seasoning, both players appear destined to impact the Yankees’ lineup in the near future.

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