New York Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr. is quickly making a name for himself in Major League Baseball, with his elite defensive capabilities drawing particular attention. Lombard credits his background in soccer, a sport he played through high school alongside baseball, for developing the skills that have translated to his success at shortstop.
Cody Bellinger, a fellow player, described Lombard as "Just a baseball player," a compliment that Lombard acknowledges but feels is only partially accurate. "The praise was understood but not wholly correct," the notes state. Lombard delayed specializing in one sport, participating in both baseball and soccer throughout his high school years.
During his senior year, just months before being selected by the Yankees in the first round of the draft, Lombard, along with his brother Jacob, was instrumental in leading Gulliver Prep to a state championship title in soccer. His role as a defender in soccer is seen as a direct contributor to his agility and quickness on the baseball field.