For Miami Marlins’ first-round selection, Jacob Lombard, 2026 was about opening the door, now he will look to take things to the next level throughout the offseason or next year.

What happens in 2027 could go a long way toward determining just how far the newest top prospect will jumpstart his pro playing career. Selected 14th overall by his hometown Marlins, Lombard comes with the promise and expectations. He was one of the most talented players in the 2026 Draft class; his combination of athleticism, power, speed, and baseball instincts could eventually produce something special.

But the Marlins aren't going to rush him, and the young shortstop isn’t interested in rushing himself. He knows that given his age, and the amount of depth the organizations

In a limited run-through at season’s end, Lombard played 22 games at Single-A Jupiter, hitting .220 with four home runs, 17 RBI and 11 stolen bases. The numbers are intriguing, but they also underscore how much Lombard remains in the initial stages of the developmental process. He's learning how to handle professional pitching while adjusting to playing baseball every day. Being the best athlete on the field won’t be good enough for the teenager anymore; he will have to build stamina and maintain a manageable, everyday schedule that can stand up to a grueling 162-game season.

That makes 2027 less about statistics and more about progression.

The most likely first destination for Lombard should be the Single-A level and the Beloit Sky Carp, where he could spend much of the season continuing to refine his offensive game. A jump to Double-A isn't impossible if he forces the issue, but Miami has little reason to accelerate his timetable. And once again, considering it will be his age-19 season, there's no reason to slam their foot on the accelerator.

Right now, the big picture is all that really matters, and there's no doubt that Miami president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and director of player development Rachel Balkovec will keep a watchful eye on the jewel of their 2026 haul.

“We have all the confidence in the world about how he will handle it on the field, athletically, all of that, but even more so, you get to see the kind of person he is," Bendix has stated about Lombard, according to an MLB.com article during the season. “I feel like we know his strengths, his weaknesses. He's an incredible human, comes from an incredible family. Obviously, a local kid and somebody that we couldn't be more excited to bring into the organization.”

MLB Pipeline currently ranks Lombard fourth among the Marlins' prospects, behind righthanded pitcher Thomas White, infielder Aiva Arquette, and lefthanded spitcher Robby Snelling. His projected Major League arrival sits around 2030, a reminder that Miami is thinking years ahead rather than weeks ahead.

 When the Marlins take the field in 2027, Jacob Lombard won't be there. He will be somewhere, riding buses and playing his trade. But he'll always see South Florida any time in the horizon, over the next couple of years.