Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr. fields some spring coaching Q&A from Put up columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Do you will have a timetable in your head as to once you hope or count on to be within the main leagues?
A: I wouldn’t say I’ve a timetable. I do know that me specializing in the issues that I can management, specializing in my work, on my play within the subject, that stuff will type of determine itself out. I simply take it by day. Wherever I’m put is wherever I’ll go, and I’m gonna play my recreation and I do know that issues like that may work out.
Q: Have you ever visualized what it’s going to be like for you once you placed on the pinstripes and run out onto the sector someday at Yankee Stadium?
A: I’ve. I imply, I’ve positively considered it. Once you’re on this state of affairs it’s positively one thing that crosses your thoughts, and I believe I visualized it extra of some extent of I wish to be ready once I get there and have already gone by means of it in my head, and clearly it’s by no means going to copy what it is going to be like in actual life. … Yeah, I’ll positively have these psychological reps.
Q: Paint that scene for me.
A: I believe for me it was all the time once you get to placed on the pinstripes, you get to be in The Bronx. It’s gonna be a stadium stuffed with folks which can be passionate, which can be intense, which can be gonna wish to win. However the greatest half for me is it’s nonetheless baseball, it’s the identical recreation I’ve performed my complete life. Clearly, it is not going to really feel the identical as simply one other recreation within the minor leagues, you’re in New York and even your mind is aware of that, so clearly there might be extra pleasure, extra nerves, all of the feelings might be simply on max. So it’s simply acknowledging that you simply’re on that stage and that you simply belong there and that you simply earned it. After which simply going on the market and enjoying my recreation.
Q: Have you ever had any conversations with Derek Jeter?
A: I spoke to him this previous offseason. … We talked a couple of bunch of issues, however I believe the most important factor is simply be myself. You understand, you get to New York, there’s clearly all the skin noise and loads of issues that may be occurring round you, however the principle factor is simply know who you’re, know what you want, maintain your circle shut and simply do your factor.
Q: Describe the massive New York stage below the intense lights.
A: It’s one thing that I’ve dreamed of as a child, and it’s one thing that since I can keep in mind, one thing I wished to do. I’m positively very excited to stand up there and win video games on the most important stage.
Q: Describe Yankees followers.
A: Passionate, actually wish to win, will let you know the way they really feel, however one of the best on the planet.
Q: No matter involves thoughts: Spencer Jones.
A: Monster.
Q: Aaron Choose.
A: Legend.
Q: Cam Schlittler.
A: Nasty.
Q: Carlos Lagrange.
A: Dawg.
Q: Aaron Boone.
A: Chief.
Q: George Lombard Jr.
A: That’s the hardest one! … I’ll go … competitor.
Q: Describe your mentality within the batter’s field.
A: I believe the most important factor for me is simply aggressive … aggressive. I all the time take satisfaction in my competitiveness, my capability to compete on the sector. You gotta be a dawg in there, be aggressive, and be on assault mode.
Q: Your mentality within the infield.
A: I nonetheless have that fireplace, the competitiveness that nothing can get by me, I gotta get to every little thing. However you simply gotta chill out and be an athlete on the market in move state.
Q: Describe what “enjoying to win” means.
A: First off, doing all of the little issues proper, doing all of the little issues your crew wants you to do in these small little moments, these add up over the sport and switch into wins. After which simply outcompeting the opposite crew, simply wanting it extra.
Q: What drives you?
A: I might say my household, doing it for the folks that have supported me my complete life, doing it for them — they’ve all the time pushed me and been there for me once I wanted them. After which all the time eager to be one of the best model of myself each day whether or not that’s on the sector, off the sector, and simply all the time chasing excellence.
Q: Does concern of failure drive you?
A: I wouldn’t say a lot concern of failure as a lot as simply me eager to be one of the best model of myself. In baseball, once you fail a lot you type of have to simply accept the truth that you’re not gonna win each single time, and it’s a must to perceive that and be OK with it after which nonetheless try to win as a lot as you possibly can, to succeed as a lot as you possibly can.
Q: Was there any level that the concern of failure prompted you to wrestle with your self?
A: One hundred percent. Particularly rising up in a recreation the place you fail a lot, being across the good gamers, it may be straightforward to go inside and get in your head once you wish to succumb to that little voice in your head that’s all the time spitting at you worst-case eventualities and issues like that. However I believe it simply takes follow and takes focused coaching to work on that. It’s part of the sport that I believe one of the best gamers on the planet are superb at, they’re elite at it, and that’s a part of the rationale why they’re at that stage is acknowledging that a part of the sport, acknowledging the failure, accepting that after which nonetheless going on the market and with the ability to be at your greatest.
Q: What has it been like being a 2023 first-round draft choose for the New York Yankees?
A: It’s been superior. From the second that my identify obtained introduced on the TV display to the New York Yankees, it was a ton of pleasure. Clearly, simply the truth that I used to be getting drafted within the first spherical, then the truth that it was the New York Yankees makes it much more particular, a corporation like that, a franchise with the historical past that New York does. It was tremendous thrilling, after which ever since I’ve been right here it’s been nothing wanting that. All people’s been nice, from the workers to the gamers and all of the ex-players that come again, everyone’s handled me nice. It’s been a ton of enjoyable.
Q: Who’re a number of the ex-players you’ve met?
A: CC [Sabathia] has been round lots, I’ve gotten to know him fairly effectively, he’s an awesome man. … Andy Pettitte’s round on a regular basis, he’s additionally one other nice dude. Didi Gregorius has been round lots, obtained to know him fairly effectively.
Q: Do you’re feeling any strain being a first-round choose and prime Yankees prospect?
A: I wouldn’t say that there’s no strain, no expectations, clearly I really feel like that simply comes with it. I all the time have a look at it as a blessing simply to be in that state of affairs the place I get to have expectations as a result of I used to be taken the place I used to be as a result of I put myself in that state of affairs. So yeah, I acknowledge it and know that that’s precisely the place I wish to be after which go from there, and I do know that if I do my factor, if I get higher each day, if I do my work, that issues will work themselves out.
Q: The place do you see the extent of your baseball IQ?
A: I believe it’s excessive. I believe one thing that’s helped me with that’s simply me all the time actually having fun with the sport, it being a ardour for me my complete life. I all the time liked watching the sport, watching folks, listening to folks speak concerning the recreation. I obtained to be across the recreation lots with my household being in baseball. I believe simply the time I’ve spent and the eagerness that I’ve had for the sport my complete life has helped me type of construct that.
Q: Give me an instance of your management.
A: I might say I’m not the kind of person who’s tremendous outspoken, in-your-face kind of chief. I’m extra of the lead by instance, do-the-little-things-how-they’re-supposed-to-be type of chief. I really feel like when there’s conversations that should be had, I can try this in non-public, I can try this with sure folks, and the identical goes for everyone else within the clubhouse.
Q: An instance of your psychological toughness.
A: Final 12 months, I type of obtained examined just a little bit once I obtained known as as much as Double-A for the primary time and needed to face some struggles, particularly in my first month up there and issues weren’t going my approach (giggle), to say the least. I needed to work by means of that and make some changes, type of undergo that grind for a month or so and cope with all these little issues. Whereas that was occurring, nonetheless play each day, nonetheless being a frontrunner on the crew, nonetheless going on the market and enjoying good protection … preventing our approach by means of a wrestle.
Q: What are you engaged on within the batter’s field now?
A: Made a few little tweaks mechanically with my swing, with my fingers which have put me in a great spot now. I really feel just like the swing itself is in a great spot, so it’s nearly going on the market, refining the method and having aggressive at bats, ensuring I do know my recreation plan each single at bat, and going on the market and executing that, so simply having as many aggressive at bats as I can.
Q: What are you engaged on at shortstop?
A: To me, taking floor balls, engaged on my protection by no means even seems like work, it’s simply enjoyable. There’s occasions the place we now have to dial in, concentrate on some particular issues that I wish to work on, however loads of occasions simply going on the market and being an athlete and making performs and ensuring I’m simply as according to that as attainable, after which refining all my abilities.
Q: How comfy are you at second base or at third base?
A: I think about myself a baseball participant, not only a shortstop. I really feel like I can go on the market and wherever my crew would wish me to play, I’m assured in myself that I can go on the market and make performs.
Q: How did soccer show you how to enjoying within the infield?
A: A ton, a ton. Total athleticism, footwork, velocity, agility, all of the issues that include being on a soccer subject, I believe all of them translate very effectively to being an athlete and shifting fluidly on a baseball subject.
Q: Who had been your favourite athletes rising up?
A: In soccer my favourite gamers had been Virgil van Dijk, [Lionel] Messi, clearly. After which, in baseball, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Mookie Betts, [Carlos] Correa, all of the actually good shortstops within the massive leagues which can be nonetheless enjoying now.
Q: What’s your greatest baseball second?
A: My crew getting within the states the primary time my senior 12 months. We had group of shut buddies, and we made run on the finish. That was a particular second that I’ll keep in mind for a very long time. After which since I’ve been right here with the Yankees, I might say in all probability the one that stands proud probably the most is my first recreation, first at-bat, obtained to sneak one out, hit a homer, floating across the bases in my first massive league recreation with the ability to hit a house run, have a number of the massive leaguers, some guys I watch on TV be there within the dugout to have fun. It was loads of enjoyable.
Q: Three dinner visitors?
A: Derek Jeter …
Q: What would you ask him?
A: All of his experiences, arising, enjoying in New York, enjoying on the most important stage, profitable championships … it doesn’t get way more legendary than Derek Jeter in New York.
Q: That’s one dinner visitor.
A: Dr. Martin Luther King [Jr.]. The impression that he had, the affect that he had, his courageousness, every little thing that he stood for, it’s positively one thing that I’d wish to be taught from.
Q: That’s two dinner visitors.
A: I’ll go Jay-Z.
Q: Favourite film?
A: “Interstellar.”
Q: Favourite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favourite meal?
A: Most likely a few of my grandmother’s Cuban meals.
Q: Inform me about your grandmother, Posey.
A: When COVID hit when my dad had some extra time to essentially dig deep into her story and her life, discovered loads of issues about her and her mission, what she did. She was coming down from the Northeast, got here all the way down to Atlanta, had my dad and his brother and sister, was a giant civil rights activist, marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King and simply did so many good issues, was some of the brave, courageous folks that I’ve ever … clearly sadly by no means obtained to satisfy her, however I want I might have. Listening to a number of the issues that she stood up for and that she fought for, it’s inspiring.
Q: Your father is a component black and white, and your mom is Hispanic. You’re like a strolling United Nations.
A: (Giggle) It’s a blessing. Being so numerous in race ethnicity, it’s allowed me to attach with a ton of various folks since I used to be younger. There was positively a time period the place I used to be studying myself and understanding myself and understanding my background, the place I come from and my household story. Now as I’ve gotten older and understood myself, it’s been nice to type of embrace myself, my range and my background, and construct relationships with folks from all walks of life, from totally different nations, totally different backgrounds, totally different tradition identification. It’s actually cool.
Q: Your father George, the Tigers bench coach, obtained his psychology diploma on the College of Phoenix.
A: One of many causes he obtained his diploma as effectively was simply to point out me and my brother [Jacob] that that may be carried out. He obtained drafted out of highschool, so he by no means obtained to try this. Similar with myself. However he made it a promise to his mother and to his household that he was gonna get that carried out each day, and he wished us to know that that’s one thing that we worth lots, and it’s crucial to us as a household is being educated.
Q: You would possibly return someday and get your diploma?
A: I made that promise to my dad and mom that I might get it will definitely someday.
Q: What are your private objectives for this season?
A: I believe what is going to put me in one of the best spot for achievement is ensuring I’m ready each single day, then going on the market and specializing in being a competitor and profitable video games wherever I’m at, wherever I begin at. I wish to be ready, whether or not that occurs or not, however to be in a possibility to assist the New York Yankees win a World Collection this 12 months.
