Spring training brings optimism, specifically when young talents make a powerful impression. For the Yankees, George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones have turned heads with their performances, providing a glimpse of the upcoming period. Lombard Jr has highlighted powerful plate discipline while Jones has highlighted his raw power—two qualities the Yankees desperately need… nut strangely, won’t capitalize on right away.

Turns out, despite the team’s continuous offensive struggles, neither will be on the Opening Day roster. Instead, the Bronx is opting for experience. The Yankees are sticking with veterans who struggled last season. Such a decision raises an issue, can the team afford to wait while its lineup continues to underperform?

The Yankees’ offense in 2024 was inconsistent. The team relied largely on Aaron Judge while others underperformed. All Rise guided the team with 58 home runs and a .322 batting average, but the rest of the talents failed to provide reliable support. In addition, Giancarlo Stanton, after hitting 27 home runs, batted just .233 with a .302 OBP. Once a vital talent, DJ LeMahieu fought with injuries and finished with a .204 average. With the Yankees ranked 19th in total runs scored and 26th in stolen bases, the gap for offensive reinforcement is visible.

This is where Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones come in. The talent from Miami posted a .385 OBP in spring training, highlighting patience and speed—qualities the Yankees lacked last season. In addition, Spencer Jones, standing at 6’6”, provides a rare mix of power and athleticism; he has already launched three home runs in camp. They could inject life into an aging lineup; however, the team has chosen to keep them in the minors and trusting experienced to bounce back. However, with the same struggles repeating, how long can the team afford to wait?

The bigger issue with losing Spencer Jones and Lombard

The Yankees’ decision to keep Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. in the minors mirrors a similar mistake made by the White Sox. In 2022, the White Sox hesitated to support Oscar Colás. Instead, the team relied on veterans, like, AJ Pollock and Leury García to fill their outfield. The outcome? An anemic offense, a gap in defensive flexibility and an 81-81 finish that the team out of the postseason. And time soured the prospect.

When White Sox finally took up Colás in 2023, his enhancement had stagnated because of restricted exposure to MLB pitching. By the time White Sox needed him, he was unprepared for the competition. The Yankees could be heading down the same path by delaying Spencer Jones and Lombard call-up despite clear signs they are ready.

Another issue is how injuries could highlight the Yankees’ lack of depth. Last season, injuries forced them to shuffle between ineffective replacements, guiding to offensive inconsistencies. Before being traded, Harrison Bader played just 84 games. However, Anthony Rizzo’s year was cut short because of concussion issues. With Giancarlo Stanton’s injury history and DJ LeMahieu’s decreasing durability, the team risks being one injury away from another offensive collapse. And yet, the team is opting for a short-handed roster instead. If injuries come again – as they are bound to in any season, will the Yankees regret keeping the two promising young hitters away from the big leagues?

The Yankees’ decision to leave Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones off the roster despite their strong performances highlights a stubborn reliance on experience. With the offense already highlighting cracks, the bigger question remains: how long can they afford to wait before turning to the fresh talent they desperately need?