There might be a few surprising concerns about George Lombard Jr.’s defense, the rookie shortstop committing a third error in as many games after a sparkling start.
There might be a few unsurprising concerns about Spencer Jones’ strikeouts, up to 64 in his first 57 games and 159 at-bats.
But there is far more excitement than concern over what the Yankees are witnessing from their two youngest active players, who are sparking an offense that was desperate for anything or anyone who could get it going.
Lombard and Jones combined for four hits, four runs scored and an RBI in the Yankees’ 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays in The Bronx on Sunday, when good things continually happened when the pair stepped to the plate.
Such as Lombard’s well-struck single to the right side in the second inning, which was followed by Jones crushing an RBI double into right-center field that allowed a chance for two fresh and speedy legs to gallop around the bases.
Such as Lombard’s slow roller to third base that he turned into an infield single in the sixth, which was followed by Jones demolishing a 110.2 mph single in an inning where both would come around to score.
“They’re good players, so hopefully they can continue to kind of entrench themselves as key pieces going forward,” manager Aaron Boone said of the duo, who are good friends off the field and beginning to establish themselves on it.
Jones simply being on the roster Sunday was significant.
As recently as a few days ago, there was curiosity whether the return of lefty-hitting outfielder Cody Bellinger would shove the other lefty-hitting outfielder back to the minors.
But Ryan McMahon’s IL stint changed the equation, and it was the just-called-up Max Schuemann who was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Jones, who is up to a .743 OPS with seven home runs, continues to play his way into more playing time and now finds himself in a platoon role in right field with the righty-hitting Heliot Ramos.
“He’s made good adjustments to the league,” Boone said of Jones, who has hit safely in eight of his past 11 games and is slashing .307/.357/.564 in the span. “And I feel like has a good understanding of his strengths and weaknesses, has a good idea of the opposing pitcher’s strengths and weaknesses.
Yankees Merch Shop
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
“And I feel like for a young player, he’s done a good job of making adjustments and applying his experience to help him get better.”
As for Lombard, his glove might be slumping — he could not record any outs on a fourth-inning ground ball from Ernie Clement that might have been an inning-ending double play — but he has shown enough spectacular for some leeway while he also is showing he, too, might be figuring out major league pitching.
A prospect who took time to master every minor league level has not appeared to need much of a learning curve in the majors, now with five multi-hit games in his first 17 and batting .288 with a .755 OPS.
“It’s been excellent,” Boone said of Lombard’s bat. “He’s another guy that’s gotten a lot better on that side of the ball this year. He’s grown a lot as a hitter.
“He knows the strike zone. … He’s strong and has some power, but I think the hit-ability piece is getting better. We’ve seen him in a number of situations, kind of just punch one to the right side, where the situation kind of calls for it, too.
“He’s done a really good job.”
