The New York Yankees secured an 8-3 victory on Sunday afternoon to win two of three games and take the series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The win marked rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr.’s 17th major league game since the Yankees called him up on Aug. 4. He logged four at-bats and recorded two hits and two runs.
Aaron Boone Praises Lombard Jr.
After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about what he’s seen from Lombard Jr., specifically regarding his development as a hitter.
“Yeah, it’s been excellent. He’s another guy that’s gotten a lot better on that side of the ball this year,” Boone said. “He’s grown a lot as a hitter. He knows the strike zone. That’s always something he’s done a good job with and should continue that.
“He’s strong and has some power. But I think the hit-ability piece is getting better … he’s done a really good job. Competitive at-bats day in and day out. Whether you get a knock or two or you don’t, he’s represented himself really well.”
Aaron Boone on George Lombard Jr. at the plate:
“Been excellent. He’s another guy that’s gotten a lot better on that side of the ball this year” pic.twitter.com/rPKMjQb9UB
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026
Lombard Jr.’s 2026 Season
Lombard Jr. has made an instant impact defensively, looking well beyond his years at shortstop through his first 17 games.
However, he’s also started to make an impact at the plate. Across 59 at-bats, he’s hitting .288 with two home runs, five RBIs and one stolen base while slugging .407 with a .755 OPS.
Yankees Right Now
New York improved to 74-56 on Sunday and still owns the second-best record in the American League, trailing only the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees will begin a series against the Houston Astros in the Bronx on Tuesday before hosting the Boston Red Sox for a weekend series. Boston sits just 3.0 games behind New York in the standings.
Aaron Boone Makes George Lombard Jr. Statement After Yankees’ Series Win