The New York Yankees won't be moving on from Anthony Volpe until this happens.
New York Yankees fans have been clamoring for the team to replace Anthony Volpe at shortstop, but that didn't happen this offseason. It probably won't happen at any point during the regular season, either.
Volpe will begin 2026 on the shelf as a result of his recovery from shoulder surgery, so we won't even see him out of the gate. Jose Caballero will handle shortstop duties early on until Volpe is ready to return.
But for all of the talk about jettisoning Volpe and finding an upgrade at the position, Yankees fans seem to be forgetting one obvious variable: George Lombard Jr.
New York's top-rated prospect, Lombard made the jump to Double-A last season and could be on a fast track to the majors.
Yes, he is only 20 years old, and he did struggle in Double-A this past year, slashing .215/.337/.358 over 469 plate appearances. He also dropped from No. 25 to No. 32 in MLB.com's top 100 prospects list.
But it's pretty clear that the Yankees are expecting Lombard to be their shortstop of the future.
New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.Prior to being promoted to Double-A midway through 2025, he was slashing .329/.495/.488 across 111 trips to the dish in Single-A. So perhaps he just needs to adjust to a higher level of baseball?
The 2026 campaign could represent a breakout year for Lombard, who was selected by New York with the 26th overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.
There is no reason for the Yanks to rush and land a long-term replacement for Volpe if Lombard is only a year or two away. Volpe is under team control through 2028, and the Yankees are surely willing to be patient — much to the chagrin of the fan base.
Patience is not something New York fans are accustomed to exercising, but it's patently obvious that Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman are forcing it.
Volpe played most of 2025 with a torn labrum in his shoulder, and it should be noted that before he suffered the injury in early May, he was performing pretty well. So maybe the 24-year-old will have a surprising year in 2026?
If Volpe continues to struggle, don't expect the Yanks to go out and net a big-time player at the position (not that there are really any available, anyway). Caballero would probably get the nod at that point, and the Yankees would just try to bridge the gap until Lombard is ready.
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