What happened: Mark DeRosa highlighted Jacob Lombard, regarded as the No. 4 prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class, praising the work he showed alongside established big leaguers in batting practice groups. DeRosa noted Lombard took swings with Bobby Witt and Gunnar Henderson, saying that while you can still tell who the established big leaguers are, Lombard 'is not far off.'
Why it matters: The endorsement carries weight ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft, where a top-five projection already marks Lombard as a foundational talent. Being measured against Witt and Henderson, two of the game's premier young middle infielders, frames the kind of ceiling evaluators are attaching to him as draft day approaches.
By the numbers: Lombard is rated the No. 4 prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class.
What to watch: Watch where Lombard lands in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft and how his draft stock holds through the pre-draft showcase circuit.