Jacob Lombard is one of the more exciting high school bats in the 2026 MLB Draft class, and Sportsvival sees the Gulliver Prep shortstop as the type of player who could rise quickly because of his athletic frame, bloodlines, speed, and upside at a premium defensive position. Lombard brings the tools teams look for early in the draft: size, bat speed, athletic actions, and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS, Florida
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 185 pounds
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Position: Shortstop
School: Gulliver Prep, Florida
College Commitment: Miami
Projected Round: Round 1, possible top-five pick
Background
Jacob Lombard plays at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida, and has become one of the top high school position players in the 2026 MLB Draft class. He has the long, athletic frame teams look for when scouting high school shortstops, with plenty of room to add strength as he continues to develop.
Lombard also comes from a baseball family. His brother, George Lombard Jr., is one of the top young prospects in the New York Yankees system, and Jacob has continued to build his own name as one of the most talented players in the country. He has also played soccer, and that two-sport background shows up in his footwork, body control, and overall athleticism on the baseball field.
2026 Stats
Lombard put together a strong 2026 season for Gulliver Prep, showing the ability to hit for average, get on base, drive in runs, and create offense with his legs. His production helped solidify him as one of the top high school bats in the draft class.
2026 Stats:
29 games played
.477 batting average
.607 on-base percentage
42 hits
25 RBI
52 runs scored
Tools and Skills
Lombard has the look of a modern athletic shortstop. He is long, rangy, and quick-twitch, with enough speed to impact the game on the bases and in the field. His athletic ability helps him cover ground at shortstop, make plays on the move, and put pressure on defenses when he gets on base.
At the plate, Lombard shows bat speed and projectable power. He is not just a contact hitter. There is real offensive upside here. As he gets stronger, the ball could start jumping even more consistently. His swing gives him a chance to hit for average, drive the gaps, and eventually grow into more home run power.
Defensively, Lombard has the actions to stay on the left side of the infield. His footwork, glove confidence, and lateral movement give him shortstop traits. If he adds strength and keeps polishing the arm and internal clock, he has a chance to remain at shortstop long term.
Pros
Lombard has one of the better athletic profiles among high school position players in the 2026 MLB Draft class.
He has plus speed and uses that athleticism well on both sides of the ball.
His frame is projectable, with plenty of room to add strength without losing quickness.
He has the defensive actions and movement skills to stay at shortstop.
The offensive upside is very high because of his bat speed, size, and ability to impact the baseball.
His two-sport background gives him advanced coordination, footwork, and body control.
Cons
Like most high school hitters, Lombard will need time to adjust to better velocity and more advanced breaking balls.
There is still some projection involved with the power, even though the ingredients are clearly there.
Because of his size, some scouts may want to see how he continues to move as he fills out physically.
His future draft value will depend heavily on how confident teams are that he can stay at shortstop.
MLB Comparison
MLB Comparison: Bobby Witt Jr. style upside
This is not saying Lombard is Bobby Witt Jr., but the comparison comes from the athletic shortstop profile. Lombard has size, speed, defensive range, and power projection. Like Witt, the appeal is not just one tool. It is the full package. A team drafting Lombard will be betting on the athleticism, the frame, and the chance that the bat continues to develop into impact production.
Draft Outlook
Sportsvival sees Jacob Lombard as a first-round talent in the 2026 MLB Draft, with a real chance to go as high as the top five picks if teams believe the bat will translate against advanced pitching. High school shortstops with his mix of size, speed, defensive upside, bloodlines, and offensive projection do not last long on draft night.
The key will be how teams evaluate the hit tool and whether they believe he can stay at shortstop long term. If the answer is yes, Lombard has one of the higher ceilings in the class and could become one of the first players off the board.
Sportsvival Summary
Jacob Lombard checks a lot of boxes for a high-end MLB Draft prospect. He plays a premium position, runs well, has size, has bloodlines, has defensive upside, and has a bat that could grow into real impact. There is still development ahead, but the tools are loud.
Sportsvival views Lombard as one of the most intriguing high school prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft. If everything comes together, he could be a future everyday big league shortstop with speed, power, and the type of athleticism that changes games.