Yankees' George Lombard Made Mickey Mantle History in Major League Baseball Debut

New York Yankees fans were very excited on Tuesday night, as youngster George Lombard made his Major League Baseball debut.

Lombard, undoubtedly one of the top prospects in baseball right now, has a real opportunity to come in and not only show that he can be a good player in this league, but also have an opportunity to make a major impact for the Yankees. 

The Yankees, a team that has called up multiple prospects over the past few years, haven't gotten the return that they've been looking for on that front. It's unfortunate to see some of the Yankees' prospects play at the level they have, but it's the harsh reality of the situation.

Lombard will have just as many questions as he actually becomes the fifth-youngest player to make his Major League debut when he steps on the field for New York, according to The Athletic. He's in there with some absolute legends, including Mickey Mantle.

“At just 21 years old, Lombard will become the fifth-youngest Yankee to make his MLB debut when he takes the field Tuesday against the Cardinals. Only Mickey Mantle, José Rijo, Jasson Domínguez and Stan Javier were younger than Lombard when they broke into the majors… 

“The Yankees will count on Lombard to provide stability at shortstop, especially defensively, though he’s capable of playing all over the infield. He’s widely viewed as the best infield defender in the organization,” Brendan Kuty wrote.

It's unfortunate to see that guys like Jasson Dominguez haven't been able to figure things out at the highest level in Major League Baseball, though it does go to show that debuting at such a young age doesn't lead to automatic success. 

In fact, a lot of youngsters who come up typically struggle early on, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Lombard have some struggles. I think he has a chance to be really good and make an impact, but if he comes in and doesn't swing it the way some are hoping for, I think it's best not to get emotional and give him some time.