Fox Lane grad Michael Lombardi was picked by the Kansas City Royals 61st overall in the MLB draft following a breakout season on the mound at Tulane.
Michael Lombardi said that getting drafted would be "a step" toward fulfilling his dream of reaching the big leagues. Well, the Pound Ridge native being selected in the second round of the MLB draft can be considered a long stride.
The pitcher was chosen by the Kansas City Royals with the 61st overall pick on July 13, several slots ahead of his MLB.com projection.
"It's the greatest thing in the world," Fox Lane High School baseball coach Matt Hillis said of his former pupil, who graduated in 2022. "Michael is a special kid. He’s incredibly nice and polite, so you root for him as a person, and it’s a joy to watch him succeed. He went to Tulane, so he’s obviously a high academic achiever and on top of that, his athletic ability is starting to speak for itself."
The 21-year-old joins Henry Davis and Tyler Renz as former Fox Lane standouts who've been drafted in recent years. Davis, who now is a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was taken by them with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 after a stellar career at Louisville. Renz, a pitcher, was taken by the Brewers in the 18th round last summer after a dominant high school season.
Lombardi features a four-seam fastball that has topped out at 97 mph, complemented by a changeup and a curveball with 12-to-6 movement. He contributed as a two-way player for Tulane University and believes that his velocity and repertoire could improve as a professional, once he focuses only on pitching.
The right-hander starred as a relief pitcher and occasional starter, going 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA, 73 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP in 42 innings. Lombardi recorded 11 saves and held opponents to a .143 batting average. He also played center field and batted .273 with an 845 OPS and four homers in 139 at-bats and was 5 for 5 on stolen bases.
Lombardi said he first began thinking the draft was a possibility last year, when area scouts first approached him after games and offered positive feedback. That intensified last spring during a breakout season that vaulted him among the top collegiate prospects. He was ranked 75th overall, according to MLB.com.
The next step for Lombardi will be the negotiation and signing of his contract, then being assigned to a minor league team. The approximate slot value of the 61st pick is $1.4 million.
The Royals chose outfielder Sean Gamble with their first-round pick, then used an additional Prospect Promotion Incentive pick (28th overall) on shortstop Josh Hammond. Lombardi began for them a run on pitchers with his selection followed by Texas A&M left-hander Justin Lamkin and Cameron Millar, an 18-year-old pitcher from California.
Valley Cottage’s Adonys Guzman, a University of Arizona catcher, and White Plains native Jimmy Keenan, a Wake Forest catcher, and are local products who might be selected later in the draft.
Joe La Sorsa of Mount Kisko, Bronxville's Harrison Bader, Josiah Gray of New Rochelle and Rye native George Kirby are some of the former local standouts currently in the major leagues.
"He's off the charts as a human being," Hillis said of Lombardi, "so I couldn't be happier for him."
Stephen Haynes covers baseball for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: MLB Draft: Michael Lombardi selected by the Royals in the second round
Category: Baseball
