Jacob Lombard

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #2 prospect in 2026 draft
  School: Gulliver Prep HS, Miami, Fla. Age At Draft: 18.8
  
  Committed: Uncommitted
  
  While scouts were following 2023 shortstop George Lombard Jr. before he became a first-round pick of the Yankees, they also got plenty of looks at his teammate and younger brother Jacob. The son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Jacob’s baseball upbringing is evident with his instincts and fundamentally-sound game. He’s one of the most disciplined hitters in the 2026 class, making good swing decisions with the patience to take his walks. Lombard gets himself into a good hitting position and takes a short, efficient swing and keeps his head locked in, which helps him track and recognize pitches. He has good balance, enabling him to stay back to use the whole field and use his quick hands. There have been stretches where Lombard has shown a higher swing-and-miss rate, so while it’s not elite bat-to-ball skills, he has typically gotten on base at a high clip. As he’s gotten bigger, stronger and faster, Lombard is now showing some of the better raw power in the 2026 class, with a chance for that to develop into an above-average tool. He’s a plus-plus runner who projects to stick at shortstop, where he makes everything look smooth and easy. He has a quick first step, reads hops well and has a nose for the ball. He can make the flashy play, but unlike a lot of young shortstops, he plays under control too, with good hands and a quick transfer.
• Ranked #7 prospect in 2026 draft
  School: Gulliver Prep HS, Miami, Fla. Committed/Drafted: Miami. Age At Draft: 18.8
  
  While scouts were following 2023 shortstop George Lombard Jr. before he became a first-round pick of the Yankees, they also got plenty of looks at his teammate and younger brother Jacob. The son of Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Jacob’s baseball upbringing is evident with his instincts and fundamentally-sound game. He’s also one of the most toolsy players in the 2026 class. Now listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Lombard has added strength and speed as he’s gotten bigger and flashes plus raw power and 70-grade run times. At shortstop, he makes things look easy with smooth actions, a quick first step, good reads on hops and plenty of arm strength for the position. He can make the flashy play, but he’s also consistently under control with a polish to his game that’s rare for a teenager. The question for Lombard comes down to how much contact he’ll make and what the quality of his hit tool is. While he showed an advanced offensive approach as an underclassman, he swung and missed at a concerning rate during the 2025 circuit. Lombard’s pure upside is among the best in the 2026 class, but there’s plenty of variance in his profile without adding more contact ability. He’s committed to Miami and is expected to be a top-10 overall pick.