George Lombard Jr. had one of those pinch-me moments after hitting his first home run in spring training last month, awestruck for a second while getting congratulated in the dugout.
A round of attaboys from teammates is to be expected, of course, but the 19-year-old was taken by the whom and the why.
“I’m getting high-fives from guys I watched on TV,” said Lombard Jr., who is one of the New York Yankees’ most touted prospects. “That’s a cool feeling. It’s something I’ll always remember, for sure.”
Cherished are the connections he forged with players like Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm and Dom Smith, and the words of encouragement from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
Even for the son of a former major leaguer, who has been exposed to professional baseball since childhood, there is an incredible feeling of fulfillment in having earned an opportunity to be teammates with those Yankees stars he admires and then to earn their kudos.
For Brendan Jones, who didn’t expect to play much in spring training, it began with a tap on the shoulder after being informed that he would sub in for Cody Bellinger.
“It’s Jazz Chisholm behind me, and he’s giving me his scouting report on the pitcher,” said Jones, whom the Yankees chose in the 12th round last year. “I’m like, ‘This is surreal.’”
They hope to eventually make it a permanent reality, reaching for the brass ring as they work through the minor leagues.
Those standouts, along with heralded 2024 draft picks Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, are among several prized prospects whom fans can follow closely this year with the Hudson Valley Renegades, whose season opens Friday at home.
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