Before traveling to Milwaukee last week, the Miami Marlins officially announced the signing of their 2026 first-round draft pick, Jacob Lombard, on Thursday. According to Francys Romero, the shortstop agreed to a $5 million signing bonus, which came in $445,000 below the assigned slot value for the No. 14 overall pick.
Lombard was never expected to fall outside the top 10 of the draft. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America ranked him as the fifth-best prospect available, making his slide to the 14th overall pick one of the biggest surprises of the first round. The Gulliver Prep product is already very familiar with loanDepot park. He attended numerous Marlins games there as a fan and was also in attendance during the World Baseball Classic. In addition to that, he’s played on the field himself, most notably in the Prep Baseball All-American Game.
During his senior season, Lombard slashed .477/.607/.864 with a 1.471 OPS, while hitting 10 home runs and driving in 25 runs. His older brother, George Lombard Jr., is the New York Yankees’ top prospect, while his father, George Lombard Sr., played 16 Major League seasons and currently serves as the Detroit Tigers’ bench coach. That family background, combined with consistently competing against some of Florida’s top high school talent, has left him well-prepared for professional baseball.
Being that you’re from Miami and of Cuban descent, how does it feel to get drafted the Miami Marlins?
Oh, it’s amazing. I mean, I can tell you one thing, my family is more happy than ever that so many people reached out. I’m glad, you know, I can wear the Marlins’ name across my chest. And of course, no one’s more happy than me to get started playing baseball.
How has playing in a city, in districts such as the ones in South Florida prepared you for the minor leagues, in your opinion?
I would say you have a kind of a group of good players to play against. Everything in South Florida, you have that ladder players, which is going to be pretty prominent once you get to minor leagues. You have more Dominican players and more international players in general and in Miami, you have a good mix of that.
Your brother obviously is a top prospect in Yankees farm system, has he given you any advice for your upcoming endeavors in the minor leagues?
Oh, yeah. I mean, we talk every single day. Ever since he left to start his pro journey, we’ve probably, probably gotten even closer. We’ve spent a lot of time on the phone every day talking what went well in the game, what he could have done better,you know, what there is to learn from it as well.
Is there a ETA from when you incorporate yourself to your minor league squad?
I know I’m going to Jupiter tonight. That’s all I know.
Any goals for your upcoming season?
Just to make progression. I mean, to kind of end the season better than I started.