New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence in 21-year-old shortstop George Lombard Jr. on Friday, despite the player's streak of committing at least one error in six consecutive games. This defensive stretch marks the longest such streak for a Yankees shortstop since 1915.
Lombard was in the lineup for Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox, with the team emphasizing their trust in his work ethic and overall ability to recover from the slump. Boone stated that while six errors in a row is undesirable, he believes Lombard's fundamentals and dedication will help him through this period. "I really trust the kid and the person and the talent," Boone said. "I think he’ll get through this and it’s a bump."
Infield, baserunning, and first base coach Dan Fiorito, who has worked closely with Lombard throughout his minor league career, echoed Boone's sentiments. Fiorito described Lombard as handling the situation well, coming into the facility for discussions and training after each game. "He seems so confident," Fiorito added. "This is definitely not characteristic of George to see it."
Prior to this recent stretch, Lombard was primarily recognized for his strong defensive skills and high baseball IQ in the minor leagues. The Yankees had hoped these attributes would support him as he adjusted to the major leagues after being called up in early August. While the recent errors have been notable, the coaching staff does not appear concerned about a loss of confidence or view it as more than a temporary setback.
Fiorito highlighted Lombard's consistency and reliability in routine plays as his main strengths, abilities he expects the young shortstop to regain. Lombard himself acknowledged the errors are "not acceptable" but stated he still trusts his abilities. "I want every ball hit to me and I know I’m going to make the plays. But it’s definitely frustrating."
The Yankees have not indicated any plans for roster changes, such as recalling Anthony Volpe, who is currently transitioning to second base but has also seen occasional starts at shortstop in Triple-A. Lombard's error rate in previous seasons was significantly lower, with seven errors in 947 innings in 2025 and nine errors in 536 innings in 2026 across Double-A and Triple-A. His six errors over the last approximately 50 innings prior to Friday's game stand out as a surprising development.
"I think he has the confidence he’s going to make them, we do as well," Fiorito said. "He’s out there trying to make plays and help us win."