NY Yankees’ top prospect overtakes Aaron Judge in key statistical category

The New York Yankees are off to a strong start this season with a 33–20 record, and Aaron Judge continues to anchor the team’s success. But while the spotlight remains on the Bronx, a rising star is making serious noise down in Double-A. Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. is turning heads, and recently surpassed Judge in a crucial statistical category.

Judge has been nothing short of phenomenal so far, leading both leagues with 80 hits and posting an MLB-best 4.7 WAR through 53 games. Despite those numbers, the Yankees still expect even more from their captain as the season progresses. With plenty of games left, Judge remains a dominant force, pacing the American League in home runs (18), runs (51), and OPS (1.248).

Lombard Jr., the son of former MLB player and current coach George Lombard, is showing why he’s one of the most exciting prospects in the Yankees’ farm system. In the midst of an impressive stretch, he’s reached base in 14 consecutive games and has quietly overtaken Judge in walks, 37 to 34, making him the organizational leader in that category. For a developing hitter, that level of plate discipline is a big deal.

Lombard Jr.’s has drawn the attention in the Double-A

“He’s got great tools,” said Double-A Somerset head coach Raul Dominguez in an interview with MLB.com. “He keeps getting on base, stealing bases. I’m excited to have him. Everybody’s watching him. He’s got great game awareness. It looks like he’s been here a while. Everything looks natural.”

“It’s been good,” he said of his season so far. “It’s still baseball. It’s still [about] hitting pitches. At the end of the day, you’re just going out there and competing. That part never changes.”

see also

Yankees ramp up search for missing piece to support Aaron Judge

Judge still leading the charge in the Bronx

Even with Lombard Jr. making waves, Judge continues to deliver MVP-caliber numbers in the big leagues. While he may have been edged in walks, he leads the American League in multiple categories and remains a powerhouse in the Yankees lineup, especially as the team anticipates Giancarlo Stanton’s return in the coming weeks.

Here’s a look at Judge’s stat line through 53 games:

• Games Played (G): 53
• At-Bats (AB): 201
• Batting Average (AVG): .398
• Home Runs (HR): 18 – AL leader
• Runs Batted In (RBI): 47
• Runs (R): 51 – AL leader
• Hits (H): 80 – MLB leader
• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .492 – MLB leader
• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .756 – MLB leader
• On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS): 1.248 – MLB leader
• Stolen Bases (SB): 4
• Walks (BB): 36
• WAR (Wins Above Replacement): 4.7 – MLB leader

Bold indicates American League leader; italics denote MLB leader.