George Lombard Jr. Injury Update
Given the situation, perhaps George Lombard Jr. could have avoided a bigger setback.
The Yankees’ top prospect “sprained several fingers” on his left hand, according to a team spokesperson on Wednesday night. This announcement followed Lombard’s ejection from a Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre game after he injured his hand while attempting to cover second base during a stolen base attempt.
He did test negative on Wednesday, but the length of his recovery remains uncertain.
This 21-year-old shortstop currently boasts a .231 batting average, a .765 OPS, and eight stolen bases over 42 Triple-A games. After a slow start post-promotion from Double-A earlier this season, he has shown signs of improvement lately.
Depending on how he performs, Lombard could still fit into the Yankees’ plans this season.
The team believes he is ready defensively for the majors—he can also play third and second base. However, it’s uncertain if he can maintain consistent hitting to make it to the Bronx this year.
Of course, his path may also be influenced by how Jose Caballero and Anthony Volpe manage the shortstop duties for the Yankees.
Max Fried’s Progress
Meanwhile, Max Fried is showing promising signs in his recovery. After throwing all his pitches with “good intensity” during his first full bullpen session on Tuesday, following a left elbow contusion that had him on the disabled list, he reported feeling good on Wednesday.
He will need to continue to demonstrate improvement in his elbow recovery before being cleared for a full return, but if progress persists, Fried is expected to have another bullpen session this weekend.
Manager Aaron Boone mentioned, “I talked to him today and he said he felt really good during the game and coming into today.” This ongoing positive feedback since Fried went on the IL a few days after the Baltimore opener is encouraging.
Austin Wells’ Rehab Update
Austin Wells, dealing with a neck headache, successfully passed his first rehab game on Tuesday and was set to start again at catcher in Wednesday’s game against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, which unfortunately faced rain delays.
Yankees Lineup Decisions
In preparation for facing White Sox left-hander Anthony Kay, Boone placed Caballero in left field, Bellinger in center, and Yasson Dominguez in right field. This shift allowed Bellinger to play center for the day, while Dominguez remained in right, offering him the chance for consistent practice in his new position.
