Who will be the next Yankees prospect to break out?

Fri, Aug 14, 2026

On this edition of Yankees Mailbag, SNY's Niki Lattarulo is joined by SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes to take on fan questions about the state of the Bronx Bombers, including queries about where George Lombard Jr. should hit in the batting order, other potential prospects that could break out, the moves and non-moves made at the MLB Trade Deadline, and when Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton could return from their injuries.

Video Transcript

Lombard seems, like, obsessed with baseball.

Like, he really cares about this.

Almost in a way, like, that I haven't seen a lot of rookies sh- show before.

What's up, guys?

Welcome to the latest episode of Yankees Mailbag, the show where we answer your questions.

I'm Nicki Jada Rulo, and today I am joined by our SNY MLB insider, Chelsea Janes.

Chelsea, hello.

Thank you for joining us.

Straight from Yankee Stadium, so perfect for today's episode.

Totally.

I should know everything and have all the answers.

I am on the ground.

Boots on the ground journalism.

So just a reminder before we get started, go to our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

Look for a post from SNY asking you to submit your questions, and if you're watching on YouTube you can also drop them in the comment section below.

So just to refresh everyone, the Yankees have lost a little bit of ground in the ALE since we last spoke.

Now they trail the Rays by six games as we sit here, but we have some good positive news.

Of course, the emergence of top prospect George Lombard Jr.

In the Bronx, which leads us to our first question.

So first question comes from Gary Sheffield Jr. On X.

Yes, it is that Gary Sheffield Jr. Chelsea, will the Yankees consider moving George Lombard Jr. Up the lineup to provide more protection from Garcia Jr., Rice, or even Bellinger when he returns?

Wow.

Well, first of all, anyone whose name is Gary Sheffield- Jr. Or not probably knows better than I do, but, um- it's funny this came up today because, Lombard is hitting fifth today, today being Thursday, be- and Yankees are gonna play the Mariners an hour or two.

And someone asked Aaron Boone what was up with that, and he's like, "Stop asking about people moving up and down in the lineup, 'cause really all we're doing right now is trying to balance out this lineup that is so lefty heavy," and Lombard, a righty, is up there because they need somebody to split up Garcia and Jones and Rice and, you know, Grisham and all those guys.

So, you know, A, I think it's, it's already happening.

They're already moving up, but from my perspective, you know, even when they get healthy, you know, when Bellinger comes back, like, that balance is still gonna be really off.

They're still so lefty heavy.

So I think there's a really good chance he moves up, not so much, like, out of protection, but just for pure balance, just so that they You know, if you're trying to make a decision with a late inning reliever as the opposing manager and you get to the heart of the Yankees lineup, you have to make a choice and, you know, they'll probably choose to to face Lombard with a lefty, and that sets him up for success.

So it's just, I think it's more balance than protection, but we're seeing it happen already and that's a, that's a ton of trust to put in, you know, like, a what, 21-year-old kid.

So- yeah, it's happening.

Speaking of 21-year-old kid, there's not a ton of questions on George Lombard, so just wanna get your opinion, what has your overall impression been on him so far?

He's only been up for what, like, a week or so, but I think for me the expectations have been exceeded already.

Yeah, he's really good.

You see why they haven't traded him.

The thing that stands out to me, having seen a lot of guys come up, I mean, like, I was there when Juan Soto came up, you know, like, he, Lombard seems, like, obsessed with baseball.

Like, he really cares about this.

Almost in a way, like, that I haven't seen a lot of rookies sh- show before.

I think a lot of times when rookies come up, they, they care a lot obviously, but they also kind of wanna make sure they care just enough or they don't show this or they don't challenge this pitch.

They're just kind of trying to lay low.

I think he's like, "I'm here.

I'm gonna do my thing and I'm gonna do it the way I know how," and that way was challenging some pitches in a clo- tight at bat in a close game the other day.

And he was right, you know?

And it's, it's trying to pay attention to details at shortstop.

He's out there asking questions pregame.

I mean, he's one of the better defensive shortstops I've seen, at least from what I've seen so far, and he's still like, "All right.

Let's work on this.

Let's fix this."

So my impression of him is I've been really impressed, and what I've taken away most is this kid is obsessed with baseball in a way that, you know, you don't see a lot of guys later in their careers be obsessed 'cause family and all this, but, like, when you're a 21-year-old kid and you're that talented and this is kinda all you have to think about, like, he is, he is locked in and it's really something.

Yeah, and he's here at the perfect time, and also I feel like- Yeah it's just unforeseen circumstance.

I don't think anyone really expected Volpe to be sent down and him come up right now.

Yeah.

So he's peaking at a perfect time of the year for being up here, and I'm excited to see what he can do come September.

Our next question's from King Pink.

It says, "What do you make of what the Yankees did at the trade deadline?"

It was surprising to me.

I definitely thought they would do more.

I think the fact that they didn't meet their most obvious needs maybe overshadowed the fact that they did get who I think is the best hitter that was traded at all in Luis Garcia Jr. Like, he's a really good player.

And I think that will show here, maybe more than it would anywhere because of the short porch in right field and, you know, he's got family here.

I think it's gonna be such a good fit.

So they got talent.

I mean, Elliott Ramos also a really talented player.

But it was surprising.

It was surprising not to see them get a catcher, but then you watch Austin Wells and you're kinda like, "Okay, I see why they didn't reach," 'cause he's starting to hit.

It was surprising to see them not get a bullpen guy, but then you watch how their bullpen's been and you think about the fact that, like, Ryan Weathers will probably go down there.

You know, they won't need him in the starting rotation in the playoffs, and you can, Carlos LaGrande will probably come up and you're kinda like, "Okay, you know, they'll be all right."

And then you kinda look at their infield and it's like, yeah, who was, who were they gonna get to, to upgrade there that wasn't Garcia?

So it all kinda makes sense, but I think to me that it was surprising because of how Yeah, they didn't reach.

They didn't reach to meet needs.

They, they went with what they had, they got what they could, and it'll work or it won't.

But it certainly doesn't feel like they've answered every question that you have about this roster.

It, it feels like maybe there are more now, but, but if Luis Garcia hits, that answers a lot of them And I wanna follow up on that.

Do you think that they call Lombard up because fans are unhappy with the deadline, and they're trying to like make up for the fact that they didn't make a ton of moves?

Or do you think that the timeline just matched up coincidentally?

I think it's more they knew what Lombard was, and that he was ready.

And so that's another reason why they didn't trade for someone in the middle infield who would've blocked him, right?

'Cause I think you could've looked at this roster and said, I mean, any number of shortstops would've made sense because Caballero and Volpe weren't exactly locking down the position.

But they didn't do that.

You know, they didn't make a move that was gonna make it harder for them to bring up Lombard.

And so I think basically that it seems like the choice was like, are we gonna bet on this kid, or are we gonna do something that makes it harder for us to do that?

And, and they, they chose Lombard.

Maybe, maybe they didn't want to.

You know, maybe like there were p- deadline plans that didn't come together.

I haven't heard about any of that, but I think they really believe in him, and, you know, y- I see why.

I really do.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's working out for them for sure.

The next question is different than a regular baseball question.

@NewYork5NewYork on X said, "Can you break down what this Yankees financing deal that has been in the news media means?"

I can definitely try.

I don't know a lot about how all of that works, but what I do know is this deal gives them more cash, you know, to work with.

Not cash in the traditional sense, and I'm sure everyone knows that and probably understands it better than I do, but just money they can use to pay down debt, to, you know, they have stadium debt, right?

Money they can use to pay players.

I think one of the things that is so complicated about understanding how these teams work is that a lot of them are valuable, and the, you know, they make profits year on year in attendance, and, and tickets, and TV rights, and the Yankees certainly make a ton of money on that.

We never know exactly how much because people don't show, share their books, and everyone wants to keep it quiet so they can ask for a salary cap and say they don't have enough money, all these things.

But like at their base, these teams bring in a ton of revenue, but they also pay out a lot year to year.

They pay a lot in salaries.

They pay rent on stadiums.

You know, in the Yankees case, paying down debt on the stadium, stuff like that.

And by the time you do those things, you're not making so much money that you have, you know, a ton to throw at other things.

So my understanding of a deal like this is that instead of the Yankees being rich because they bought the team for X amount, and now the value of the team is really high, and so if they sold it, they would make this ridiculous profit.

This gives them money they can use right now, that is invested because their value is so high.

And I don't really know how to explain that other than, for example, when I covered the Nationals, one of the things that kept coming up is like, yeah, the, the family that owns that team is gonna make a ton of money when they sell them, so how can they cry poor?

Well, year to year they're not bringing in as much revenue, so when you're looking at their salaries and all this stuff, it's like year on year it's actually pretty close output and input.

So they don't have a lot left to work with, say, to alter their stadium.

They don't have cash.

They don't have free money.

All their money is invested in the team itself, and so the wealth is the asset of the team.

I should probably stop talking about this because it doesn't make much sense.

All of it is to say- I think the Yankees have leveraged the fact that their franchise is valuable to get some money they can work with right now instead of hypothetical money that's kind of out in the universe that will come to them if they sell, if that makes sense.

Got it.

'Cause they're not gonna sell.

There's no plans to do that.

I got all that- Should I cut this answer and start over and never forget?

Right over my head.

I'm just a baseball girl.

I- Yeah.

I mean, me too.

Somebody's gonna watch this and be like, "You got no idea what you're talking about."

But, I don't think it means the anything other than it gives them money to work with right now.

And on that note, let's go back to some baseball talk.

Thank you.

'Cause I- Thank you don't know anything about that.

Okay.

So this is probably right up our alley.

@JudgeCole46 said, "Now with George Lombard here and playing pretty solid, who's the next big Yankee prospect to keep an eye out for?

And you can't," in all caps, "say Carlos La Grande."

Well, um- That's what you were gonna say.

Well, I think he is, but we've already talked about him.

You know, this is kind of a weird way to answer this, but around the trade deadline, one of the names we heard, and I didn't independently verify this, so it is like someone else's rumor and I can't remember who reported it.

But there was a lot of talk that the Padres, when they were talking to the Yankees about whoever it was, really wanted Dax Kilby, the infielder, who I think is in A ball right now, so a little bit away.

And if AJ Preller has his eyes on a player, that player's usually really good.

Say what you want about the way he manages the Major League roster, trades away a ton of talent, but man, he drafts well.

He scouts well.

I mean, he has a great eye for stars.

So if he really wanted Dax Kilby, I would say we should all keep an eye out on Dax Kilby.

And I think just the pedigree that he has and what I know of his resume, I think he maybe is their second or third ranked prospect right now, depending on where you look.

So yeah, that's, that's a name to watch.

Obviously, you know, probably not gonna be a shortstop if, if Lombard's here, but, people seem to think highly of him.

And if he has a Preller stamp of approval, which I, again, don't know firsthand, then that's good enough for me.

All right.

Well, you heard it here first if it does come true.

Um- First, second, third- Is there- Whatever it is, yeah.

First, second, third.

Do you know of any update while we're here on Judge, or Bellinger, or Stan?

So Bellinger's going, the Yankees are gonna go on a road trip.

It's Thursday as we're talking.

They're gonna go Friday.

Bellinger's going with them.

I saw his suitcase.

So I think that's a really good sign.

I don't know that it means he'll be back, like, on that road trip, but h- he was running the bases really hard yesterday.

He asked to take more balls in the outfield yesterday.

Like, by the eye test, he looks pretty close to ready to go play some games, so we'll see.

Judge, nothing.

I saw him come in today.

I think, I don't think we've, you know, have baseball activities there yet, like, so it's still gonna be a bit for him.

You know, Stanton, Aaron Boone said he didn't have any updates on him.

I saw Stanton hitting in the cage yesterday.

He was doing some running.

So he's working, but I think it's gonna be Bellinger, Stanton, Judge, in order of who comes back when.

I think Bellinger soon.

I think Judge is by the I mean, Stanton is gonna probably be by the end of the month, and then Judge probably in September, just 'cause he hasn't gotten going on the baseball stuff yet.

But, you know, as long as he's back by October, I think that's the most, you know, that, that's enough.

Playoff Stanton and Playoff Judge are what the Yankees- Yeah need 100%.

Yes.

Okay, finally, we have one more question, kind of not baseball related.

Ed Helinski on X, "If the Yankees were a soap opera, what would be the show's title?"

Wow.

I know that's hard.

I'm trying to think.

The original s- so, oh, yeah.

Something like, something like Great Expectations, but I know that's been taken.

But something along those lines.

The thing I think of with the Yankees is how hard it is for them to feel joy, because- Yeah they are so, like, you either win or you failed here.

And that is, like, an emotional, that's a unique emotional place to be that I think, you know, for a soap opera you could kind of highlight.

So I'm not quite sure what the best title is.

Man, so interesting.

I also can't.

I'm not good with those things.

Something about Judge, something Judge related.

Ooh, that'd be good.

Yeah.

Yeah, I don't know.

Yeah.

If you have any- I don't know leave it in the comments.

Yeah.

Everyone watching, leave them down below what you think that the show title should be, 'cause I'm not good at that, and I think that one with Judge would be good, but I don't- Yeah I can't, like, put it together.

I think the Yankees- Anyway are more of a drama, though, so I think we're, like, on the right lines there.

I think the Mets are more of, like, a reality TV, but the Yankees are more of, like, a soapy drama.

A Mets reality show would be, would be funny with, like, all the- I think we're living it young guys and stuff.

Yeah, no, literally.

Like, if we had, like, a BTS, it would be good.

The Yankees- Yeah.

I feel like there would be no BTS.

They wouldn't let us see anything behind the scenes.

Right.

They would never do the- There would be no reality TV show.

Yeah.

They would never do the one, the camera interviews in between.

You could never get them to do that.

No.

Yeah.

Like, the Hard Knocks Yankee edition would never, would never fly.

Yeah.

But- Totally with that being said, that's our show.

Thank you guys so much for watching this episode of Yankees Mailbag.

Again, submit your questions for the next episode on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or if you're watching on YouTube, drop them below.

Make sure you leave your, whatever you think the soap opera title would be so we can circle back to that next episode.

But for Chelsea Janes, I'm Nicki Jodaro.

Thanks for watching, and have a great start to your weekend.