With Anthony Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery and likely out until May, someone else will be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop for the first time since 2022.

There’s no reason to think that George Lombard Jr. will be Volpe’s replacement, as Brian Cashman stressed that the top prospect, ranked 25th overall by MLB.com, is still in “development mode” earlier this month.

“He’s come a long way,” the general manager continued when asked about Lombard at the Winter Meetings. “He’s exciting. He’s got a lot of talent. The glove’s ahead of the bat. So I guess it’d be a better question to play with at the end of the 2026 season. I’ll have more information to play off of. He could play defense in the big leagues right now, but he’s still developing on the hitting side.

“Exciting, high-ceiling talent, but I don’t think he’s ready yet.”

Cashman’s evaluation didn’t need to be said aloud, as Lombard endured some growing pains at Double-A last season, hitting .215 with a .695 OPS, eight home runs, 36 RBI and 24 stolen bases over 108 games. His strikeout rate also jumped to 26.4% after he was promoted to Somerset.

However, Lombard is only 20 years old. The average Double-A player is 3.5 years older.

With that in mind, Lombard, who impressed at big league spring training last year, will likely begin the 2026 season back in Somerset. There, the 2023 first-round pick will try to get his bat up to speed with his glove.

With a strong season, Lombard could push himself into the starting shortstop conversation down the road, especially if Volpe continues to underwhelm once he’s healthy. However, Lombard is not the only highly-touted shortstop in New York’s farm system, as there’s also 2025 first-rounder Dax Kilby, among others.

For now — and barring an external addition — José Caballero is the likeliest candidate to start at shortstop while Volpe heals.

Acquired from the Rays last season, the super utilityman pushed Volpe for playing time and filled in for him after the incumbent’s shoulder required a cortisone shot. Caballero hit .266 with an .828 OPS, three home runs, nine RBI and 15 stolen bases as a Yankee. Overall, he led the majors with 49 stolen bases, and his .339 on-base percentage, .686 OPS and 97 wRC+ were all better than Volpe’s marks (.272 OBP, .663 OPS, 83 wRC+).

If Caballero plays well in the early going next season, there will be calls for him to supplant Volpe at shortstop.

Aaron Boone has described Caballero as a “10th man” and feels there is strategic value in using the speedster off the bench, and the manager and Cashman have maintained faith that Volpe can become a consistent contributor. However, Cashman didn’t rule out the possibility of Caballero commandeering the shortstop job while Volpe is on the shelf.

“Do I believe in Anthony Volpe? The answer is yes. Do I believe Caballero has got a lot of talent? The answer is yes,” Cashman said before adding, “I have no idea where things can go. The game separates it all, the men from the boys, and dictates who should and who shouldn’t be playing over the course of time.

“People continue to earn their playing time or they don’t. In some cases, if you don’t have alternatives, somebody stays in that lane continuing to play unless you import something else. But if it’s competition off the guys on the club, may the best man win and keep it.”

With Volpe out, Oswaldo Cabrera, another versatile player, could see time at shortstop as well. At the Winter Meetings, Boone said Cabrera was in Tampa and getting ready to intensify his training after his 2025 campaign ended with a gruesome ankle fracture in May.