ARLINGTON, Tex. — George Lombard Jr. is one step away from the major leagues.

The New York Yankees promoted their No. 1 prospect, shortstop George Lombard Jr., to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday night, a team source confirmed to The Athletic. 

Lombard posted a .971 OPS with four home runs and 10 RBIs across 19 games this season for Double-A Somerset. YES Network’s Jack Curry was the first to report the news.

This is the second straight year the Yankees have fast-tracked the 20-year-old prospect through their minor-league system. Last season, Lombard was promoted to Double A after 24 games in High-A Hudson Valley. The shortstop struggled when he reached Double A, posting a .695 OPS over the rest of his season. But this year was different for Lombard. Before this promotion, Lombard’s OPS was tied for 11th among all Eastern League players.

With Lombard headed for Triple A, he’s in line to potentially make his MLB debut in 2026. This season he has played both shortstop and third base, two positions that aren’t fully settled long term for the Yankees. At third, Ryan McMahon is under contract through the 2027 season, and Amed Rosario will be a free agent at season’s end. At shortstop, Anthony Volpe has not proven he should have a stranglehold over the starting job through three seasons, and José Caballero is likely better suited for a utility role.

Lombard, rated the No. 24 overall prospect in baseball by The Athletic’s Keith Law, is expected to continue playing both positions for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He is considered a gifted infielder at both spots and viewed as potentially the best defender at shortstop in the Yankees organization.

“Defensively, he’s ready to go,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said at the general managers’ meetings in November. “Offensively, it looks like he needs more time. We’re looking to ride that time. I wouldn’t think ’26 is on the horizon, but I wouldn’t rule ’26 out at the same time.”

Given how strongly he’s started the 2026 season offensively, it now cannot be ruled out: Lombard could be in the Bronx at some point this season.