George Lombard Jr. ’s job at shortstop back in August, and now the two are being reunited in the Bronx. , and Lombard was asked directly whether it felt “awkward” to have the player he replaced suddenly back in the clubhouse.
“We’re all in the baseball world,” Lombard . “We know what the baseball world is like, anything can happen. Excited to have him, excited to work together.”
George Lombard Jr. was asked if it's "awkward" for Anthony Volpe to be called back up after taking his shortstop job
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"We're all in the baseball world. We know what the baseball world is like – anything can happen. Excited to have him, excited to work together"
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees)
back on August 4 in a straight swap that handed Lombard the starting shortstop job. The 21-year-old rookie flashed the athleticism and plug and play defense the organization had long touted, homering in his major league debut and holding his own at the plate, but he also battled a stretch of inconsistent defense in August and has since dealt with a knee issue that opened the door for Volpe’s return.
Rather than simply reinstalling Volpe at short, the Yankees appear ready to get creative with their infield. Volpe has been taking reps at second base during his time in the minors, , he is expected to see plenty of time there upon returning to the roster.
That would allow Lombard to remain the everyday shortstop as the Yankees push through the final stretch of the season.
Volpe’s demotion in August capped a difficult stretch for the former first-round pick, who had been sharing shortstop duties with Jose Caballero before losing the job outright to Lombard. His return now sets up an unusual dynamic in the Yankees’ infield, one that Lombard made clear he has no interest in treating as a rivalry.
With the Yankees fighting to hold their position in a crowded playoff race, manager Aaron Boone will likely welcome any lineup flexibility Volpe’s return provides, even if it means navigating the storyline of two shortstops sharing the same infield down the stretch.
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