Yankees top pick Lombard Jr. doubles in debut

Yankees first-round pick George Lombard Jr. made his Minor League debut on Friday, collecting a double and a pair of walks for the Yankees' Rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate in Tampa.

Lombard Jr., who is ranked by MLB.com as the Yankees' No. 6 prospect, hit second in the lineup and ripped a double to center in his first professional at-bat off FCL Phillies starter Enrique Segura, an 18-year-old righty. He drew walks in the third and fourth innings before Enmanuel Tejeda replaced him in the field at shortstop in the fifth. The first-place FCL Yankees (31-21) held on for an 8-4 in seven innings.

The 18-year-old Lombard Jr. signed with New York for $5.5 million on July 18 and was assigned to the Yankees' FCL affiliate on July 31 but had to wait a few weeks before getting the chance to enter the lineup. He was rated by MLB.com as the No. 31 prospect in the 2023 Draft class out of Gulliver Prep in Florida.

The 6-foot-3 shortstop had committed to playing at Vanderbilt but instead joined the Yankees 29 years after his father, George Lombard, was selected in the second round of the 1994 MLB Draft by Atlanta. The elder Lombard, who appeared in 144 Major League games for the Braves, Tigers, Rays and Nationals from 1998-2006, is currently a bench coach with the Tigers.

• Box score