Yanks boost lineup, get HR from Lombard in debut

August 5, 2026 No Comments

Yankees boost lineup with Lombard, who homers in debutESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsAug 4, 2026, 06:25 PM ET

NEW YORK — George Lombard Jr. made quite the first impression in his MLB debut, becoming the fourth-youngest New York Yankees infielder to homer in a game at 20 years of age.

The 392-foot solo shot to left center off St. Louis Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins came after Lombard helped smoothly turn a pair of double plays earlier in the game. The homer put New York up 2-0.

Lombard, New York’s first-round pick in 2023 and current top prospect, began this season by hitting .312 in 20 games with Double-A Somerset. After getting promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Lombard batted .268 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 56 games.

“He’s checked a lot of boxes,” manager Aaron Boone mentioned. “He’s put together an outstanding year. It’s kind of continued to get better throughout the year.”

Lombard’s time in Triple-A was interrupted by a left finger injury that sidelined him for nearly a month. In 14 games since returning, Lombard is batting .377 and went 4-for-5 with three RBIs in a 13-3 win over Iowa on Sunday.

“It wasn’t any big adjustment,” Lombard mentioned. “Obviously I had the little thing with the hand, got ready, got back to Tampa, got myself back and playing again. Felt good the whole time, baseball-wise I didn’t really felt I lost a step. I got back and I felt like I kept going from where I left off.”

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesLombard’s father, George Sr., played 144 big league games during a six-year career with Atlanta, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Washington. The elder Lombard has been Detroit’s bench coach since 2021 and was the first-base coach for the Dodgers from 2016 to 2020.Meanwhile, another addition made his Yankees debut Monday, as former New York Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos batted fourth in Tuesday night’s game. He joined the Yankees after batting .264 with nine homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games for the Giants.Ramos is expected to see the bulk of his time in left field, where he started 64 games. Ramos did not make any errors in 111 chances in left field after leading NL left fielders with nine errors in left last season.”When I first found out about the news I started shaking a little bit because obviously I didn’t know anything else,” Ramos mentioned. “But then I realized, I’m like ‘Man I’m going to be a New York Yankee.’ Like that’s crazy.”To make room for Lombard and Ramos, shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder Jasson Dominguez were optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.

Last season, Volpe batted .212 with 19 homers and 72 RBIs in 153 games. He sustained a torn labrum in his left shoulder in early May that required offseason surgery on Oct. 14.

Volpe batted .240 with one homer and 19 RBIs in 56 games. In his last five games, Volpe was 1-for-15, and he is expected to see time at second base in Triple-A.

Dominguez batted .230 with six homers and 14 RBIs so far this season. He was initially called up April 28 and sprained his left shoulder when he crashed into Yankee Stadium’s left-field scoreboard during a May 7 game against Texas.

Besides adding Lombard and Ramos, the Yankees promoted Yerry De Los Santos to replace Angel Chivilli in the bullpen.

Chivilli allowed three homers in the eighth inning Monday, including Alec Burleson’s third homer of the game. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 15 appearances for the Yankees, who acquired him from Colorado in January.

De Los Santos has a 1.04 ERA in five appearances for the Yankees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.