How good is George Lombard Jr.? What to know about Yankees' top prospect for MLB call-up originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As the New York Yankees try to unseat the Tampa Bay Rays at the top of the AL East, they are calling up their top prospect, George Lombard Jr.New York made the decision to call Lombard Jr. up on Monday night after the trade deadline passed and the team didn't add any other middle infielders. Lombard Jr. spent much of this year in Triple-A and was knocking on the door with strong performances on both sides of the ball.Lombard Jr. got the call. #RepBX | @NYYPlayerDevpic.twitter.com/25TqS5hzzI New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 4, 2026Lombard Jr. is in the lineup for the Yankees at shortstop and batting eighth as the team takes on the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium. The 21-year-old now becomes one of the most important players in determining the Yankees' future.Here's what you need to know about the new Yankees shortstop.MORE:MLB trade deadline winners and losersGeorge Lombard Jr. scouting reportLombard Jr. is widely considered the best prospect in the Yankees system, and MLB.com has him as the 20th best prospect in all of baseball. The shortstop was a 2023 first-round pick out of high school and signed with New York instead of attending Vanderbilt for college baseball.Lombard Jr. best skillset comes on the defense side of the ball, as the Yankees consistently mentioned that he was MLB-ready as a defensive shortstop.George Lombard Jr. closes it out in style.The @Yankees' No. 1 prospect makes a long throw to end the game for the Double-A @SOMPatriots: pic.twitter.com/IF3bIdTxNp MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 19, 2025Offensively, Lombard has enough power and speed to play at the major-league level. The baserunning is better, as he stole 74 bases over multiple levels combined in 2024 and 2025, but he still had 26 career minor league home runs since joining the Yankees system.The Young OG Lombard Jr. leads it off with a bomb off Crochet pic.twitter.com/xIMt9lR86k Pinstripe Strong (@PinstripeStrong) March 4, 2026For Lombard to succeed as an MLB hitter, he will need to make more contact. He doesn't enough power to strikeout among the league-leaders, so he will need to find a way to improve his whiff percentage against the best in the league. Fortunately, he does have a decent eye and should be able to avoid an unplayable chase rate.MORE:Ranking the 10 best prospects that were moved at 2026 MLB trade deadlineGeorge Lombard Jr. Yankees roleBy making this move, the Yankees are committing to Lombard as their starting shortstop in the near future and are likely to give him a long leash. Lombard is replacing Anthony Volpe on the active roster and will push Jose Caballero into a utility role, allowing him to play more at other positions.With two months until the postseason, the Yankees hope Lombard can cement himself as the starting shortstop for not just this year, but the future as well. If Lombard struggles, New York can go back to either Caballero or Volpe at any point, but that is clearly the backup plan.MORE:Grading the Yankees' trade deadlineGeorge Lombard Jr. minor league statsGames: 333BA: .248OBP: .372OPS: .763Home Runs: 26RBIs: 133Hits: 305Stolen Bases: 92Lombard Jr.'s minor league numbers are solid, but they improved at each level every year. He had a .672 OPS across all levels in 2024, and a .748 OPS last year before producing a .909 OPS in 78 games this season.George Lombard Jr. familyLombard Jr. comes from a baseball family, as his dad played in the majors and his brother was a recent draft pick. George Lombard Sr. played for four organizations from 1998-2006 as an outfielder, totaling just eight home runs in 144 games.Lombard Jr.'s younger brother, Jacob, went No. 14 overall in the 2026 draft to the Miami Marlins.With the 14th pick of the 2026 #MLBDraft, the @Marlins select Jacob Lombard from Gulliver Prep (FL).(MLB x Nippon Express) pic.twitter.com/sEJGXDivPq MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2026

BEREA Day 6 of Browns training camp was a war of attrition on Aug. 4.The players had just come off the first fully-padded practice of camp. The impact of that was evident by the longest list of non-participants of camp.The Browns had their second padded practice in a row, one which lasted roughly two hours after having gone a little more than 90 minutes the previous day. It was also under a bright sun and muggy, hot conditions.Subscribe to Browns Insider newsletterIt wasn't a surprise that there were plenty of moments where it felt like the Browns were just trying to get to the finish line. Not that they were going with half effort, it was more feeling like they were running in quicksand because of what the heat was taking out of them.That won't stop us from pointing out a handful of takeaways and observations from the practice. Let's start with the place where the Browns seem to be dropping like flies.Browns defensive tackle group thinning by the momentIt's nearing crisis point for the Browns' defensive tackle group. At the start of training camp, the only defensive tackle who wasn't on the field was veteran Maliek Collins, who was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from a quad injury.Collins continues to get closer, but not soon enough. He was one of four defensive tackles who did not practice, along with Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr. and Kalia Davis, while Sam Kamara rode off the field on a cart early in practice.That led the Browns to have to claim defensive tackle Coziah Izzard off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals after practice. During practice, they moved Adin Huntington inside to tackle from his end spot to line up next to Elijah Chatman with the first tackle pairing.Graham's dealing with a minor injury, while Davis has been sidelined since leaving the first camp practice. Hall took a shot from running back Quinshon Judkins Aug. 1, although he did ultimately finish that practice before missing both so far this week.Shedeur Sanders solid with the No. 1 offensive groupIt may not have been the most crisp day overall, but quarterback Shedeur Sanders put together a mostly positive day with the No. 1 offense. It was the third practice Sanders had run with the No. 1s, and it may have been his best yet.Sanders was the victim of a couple of drops on nice throws, including a corner route to Gage Larvadain that he wasn't able to pull in. It was a throw in which the second-year pro was able to loft it over the defender and into Larvadain's hands.Otherwise, Sanders seem to be comfortable running the offense, even though he still had to deal with pressure in his face as the offensive line Spencer Fano, Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, KT Leveston and Tytus Howard from left to right had some trouble again keeping a depleted defensive line from getting through. Still, he showed a nice ability to step up in the pocket and, when necessary, take off running.#Browns coach Todd Monken on Shedeur Sanders pic.twitter.com/f5t2TDeIuD Chris Easterling (@ceasterlingABJ) August 4, 2026Deshaun Watson's seemingly limited, or more reps for Dillon Gabriel?The Browns continued the rotation of Sanders and Deshaun Watson on a daily basis, which meant Watson was working with the No. 2 offense. It was a fairly mundane day for Watson, which meant the good throws and bad throws were almost alternated.The lasting feeling, though, was that Watson, in general, didn't throw nearly as much as usual, even with the twos. Unofficially, he only had around a dozen throws on the day.The question isn't so much losing reps to Sanders right now as losing reps to Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel, who's been No. 3 all offseason and training camp, has been solid for most of camp, solid enough that there's been real questions about him moving into the competition.Gabriel has appeared to get more opportunities as camp has progressed. He's thrown with more accuracy and more apparent zip on the football, save for an interception by Christopher Edmonds in 7-on-7, which is why you can't help but notice what's going on with him.#Browns coach Todd Monken on Deshaun Watson pic.twitter.com/tzoClTVd0W Chris Easterling (@ceasterlingABJ) August 4, 2026Pre-snap penalties remain one of the biggest problemsWant to see coach Todd Monken lose his cool? Watch him as his team stacks pre-snap penalties over and over again.Pre-snap penalties have been a continuing issue for the Browns through camp. It's fluctuated daily, but it's always been something they've dealt with on both sides of the football.Monken, despite the visible frustration on the field when it happens, acknowledged it's part of the install and learning process. It's not a fun part, but it's a part nonetheless.Buy Cleveland Browns ticketsNo, as I tell the guys, were just going to continue to work it, offense and defense," Monken said before There were times they jumped, we didnt take advantage of it, we didnt actually tap. We went to the cadence, so youre going to work that in the mornings. Youre going to work on cadence, youre going to work on all of those things until you get to games, and then youre going to find out where you can be in terms of cadence, in terms of, can you carry it to games without constantly being first-and-15, or defensively, first-and-five.Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter athttps://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 4 takeaways from Day 6 of Browns training camp, including mounting injuries

Kansas City Chiefs star Creed Humphrey will be the pace-setter at his position in 2026 after the experts at Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 1 overall in their evaluation of NFL centers.For the fourth consecutive year, Humphrey reigns atop the NFL landscape at the center position, PFFs Mason Cameron said of Kansas City's star lineman. No interior blocker has a more consistently elite grading profile over the past five seasons. In 2025, he once again led all centers in PFFWins Above Replacement (0.544) and overall PFF grade (88.8), finishing as the only center to post grades above 80.0 in both run-blocking and pass protection.Humphrey gave Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes championship-level protection last season, and will need to do so again in 2026, while also opening running lanes for Kansas City's newly acquired tailback Kenneth Walker III. Chiefs fans can expect Humphrey to be a key part of Kansas City's front five this season as head coach Andy Reid looks to reinvent his team's offense.This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: KC Chiefs star Creed Humphrey takes No. 1 spot in PFF center rankings

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 04: Luis Arraez #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty ImagesHere are the lineups. For the Phillies:New faces and new places#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/qgMINJokF6 Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 4, 2026For the Nationals:ahem https://t.co/M7AONBLYL5pic.twitter.com/ctyLBzIDzU Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 4, 2026Lets talk about it.

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 29: Joey Cantillo #54 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 29, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesHeres the Mets lineup:New series in Cleveland #LGMpic.twitter.com/TfMmWXEQ1p New York Mets (@Mets) August 4, 2026Heres the Guardians lineup:Mets in town.#GuardsBallpic.twitter.com/I0TcP6pmKY Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 4, 2026Lets go, Guardians!

It has been 11 years since the Jets had an offense that ranked in the top half of the league.A slew of players and coaches have made their way through Florham Park in that time. Every year the team and fans have been looking for new additions to unlock the offense. This year Gang Green and their faithful have two new reasons for hope: tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.The Jets leveraged their capital in this past draft to obtain three first-round picks. They used two of those picks on Sadiq and Cooper Jr. As soon as their names were called, fans began to speculate what these new Jets can bring to the table.So, what could these two rookies do to ignite a fire under a Jets offense that has been cold for over a decade?A glimpse at rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq, who can be a Swiss Army knife for the #Jets offense. pic.twitter.com/C9V08LXnh0 Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 1, 2026Kenyon Sadiq Can Elevate the Tight End RoomThe Jets drafted Sadiq at pick 16 in this past draft. The tight end dazzled during his final season at Oregon. Sadiq finished his final collegiate season with 51 receptions, 560 yards and eight trips to the end zone. Sadiq, however, truly made a name for himself at the Draft Combine. The 6-foot-3 tight end stunned the football world, running a 4.39 second 40 time, which set a record for the position.The tight end position is as important as it has ever been in football. The Jets may have found a sort of unicorn to add to their repertoire. Sadiq has the tools in the receiving game to rival other tight ends like Trey McBride and Brock Bowers. He also has the potential to be important on every down with a 67.8 PFF run-blocking grade. The former Oregon Duck will be expected to make a significant impact as a rookie and has the potential to be the second option for the Jets.While there were critiques over the pick as the Jets spent a second-round pick on Mason Taylor last year, the two should be able to coexist. Sadiqs ability to bounce outside or play in the slot will allow for both players to get ample play time. The rookies versatility will allow the Jets to hunt mismatches with both Sadiq and Taylor. The enhanced focus that defenses will have to give to Sadiq and Taylor should also open up more opportunity for staples Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.Omar Cooper Jr. Opens Up the FieldThe Jets followed up the Sadiq pick by trading back into the first round to take Cooper Jr. at 30. The 6-foot former Indiana Hoosier put up 58 receptions, 804 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final college year. Cooper Jr. is another player that fits a niche that the Jets have been missing: a physical receiver on the outside.Wilson will be the unquestioned first option in the passing game, but theres more finesse than physicality in his game. Cooper Jr. showed what he is capable of during Indianas championship winning season. Throughout the title-winning campaign, the 22-year-old tortured defensive backs with back shoulder fades. That ability alone is something that the Jets need. Cooper Jr. will be a weapon that teams have to worry about all over the field.The former Hoosiers presence will also allow Wilson much more flexibility in positioning. The Jets will be able to confidently put Cooper Jr. on the outside and move Wilson around. The wide receiver duo should see success as they will take focus off of each other. With the addition of weapons like Sadiq and Cooper Jr. the Jets offense will be as dangerous as they have been in over a decade.The post Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. Will Unlock the Jets Offense, Finally appeared first on The Lead.

Smart deadline buys help lift the Guardians in the power rankings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cleveland Guardians have not had any problems in the AL Central lately, winning the division in 2024 and 2025, and looking for the three-peat in 2026. However, they are having a bit of a problem this year.The Chicago White Sox have come out and surprised everyone, leading the division heading into the thick of things in August with their 59-52 record, but Cleveland is right behind them, sitting just three games out.So, with a need for a little boost, the Guardians decided to make some moves before the trade deadline ended. A few moves that could potentially put them ahead of the White Sox.MORE:Grading every Cleveland Guardians trade this summerSmart deadline buys help lift the Guardians in the power rankingsThe Guardians were opportunistic buyers at the deadline. They acquired OF Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for catching prospect Jacob Cozart, but that's not all.They also acquired 1B Nathaniel Lowe from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Alejandro Rivera, but the biggest prize came from the Washington Nationals.The Guardians landed LHP Foster Griffin in exchange for LHP Will Dion, LHP Josh Hartle, RHP Kendeglys Virguez, and OF Nick Mitchell.With this, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has bumped this team up in his post-deadline power rankings from No. 13 to No. 11."Tip of the cap to the Guardians, who added Foster Griffin, Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe without parting with anyone on their top 10 prospect list. They still have some holes offensively, but Adell and Lowe provide two immediate upgrades, and a rotation of Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Parker Messick and Griffin could do some real damage in October."Adell and Lowe should help provide some pop while Griffin could be a real anchor for a rotation that already has a top-10 ERA in baseball right now. This could help push them over the edge and should get the White Sox's attention.More MLB news:How good is George Lombard Jr.? What to know about Yankees' top prospect for MLB call-upBraves GM Alex Anthopoulos' latest comments show Atlanta should have DFA'd Ha-Seong KimTwins rise in power rankings following strong deadline and hot JulyRed Sox can't afford to wait on extending Adley Rutschman after trade deadline blockbuster

Northwestern Wildcats field hockey head coach Tracey Fuchs walks off the court during a timeout of the second half of a mens basketball game between Northwestern and Oregon at Welsh-Ryan arena in Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)Welcome back to the NUFH Notebook! This week, were taking a deeper dive into the newest additions to Tracey Fuchs squad. 2026 will prove to be a pivotal year for the Cats, with massive turnover on the horizon. In order to keep the win now window open, theyll need to develop talent from the bottom up.These are the seven names to keep an eye on.Jessica Freedman | So. | Perth, AustraliaFreedman is one piece that will seek to fill the massive void that two-time Honda Sport Award winner Maddie Zimmer leaves after her departure. She brings years of U18 and U21 national team experience to Northwestern.Freedman also represented the state of Western Australia during her high school years, one of her best performances came at the 2023 Australia U18 Championships, where she scored a brace in pool play after recording a hat trick in the U21 bronze medal game just two months earlier.Freedman finds herself part of a deep midfield group in preparation for the fall and is one of five newcomers looking to break in alongside returning starters Laura Salamanca and Emilie Kirschner. However, her advantage is her strong resume at one of the highest levels of field hockey on the planet.Kiera Sack | Fy. | Havertown, PennsylvaniaSack had an extremely decorated career at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, finishing it as a two-time All-American and two-time PAISAA state champ. Notre Dame was a top-5 national squad throughout her four years of high school, due in large part to her production on the attack that earned her a place in Max Field Hockeys Top 50 Players List on the class of 2026. She spent the past year on the U.S. Junior Womens National Team.Caroline Kotz | Fy. | Winnetka, IllinoisKotz grew herself into a dynamic midfielder on both sides of the ball at Loyola Academy. She made herself a staple on the varsity squad for her ability to disrupt offenses, averaging just under 14 defensive takeaways per game in her underclassman years. During that stretch, her vision grew tremendously, going from eight assists in her freshman year to 14 in her sophomore campaign.By her senior year, shed grown the confidence to take control of the offense and ended with 21 goals and 11 assists that year while totaling 328 takeaways. Her role at NU could go down two different paths: to add depth to a dynamic attack that features Ashley Sessa and Olivia Bent-Cole, or to help the defense disrupt the opposing attack in the wake of Maja Zivojnovics departure.Anna Arnold | Fy. | Bethesda, MarylandSpeaking of offensive depth, thats exactly what Arnold brings to Northwestern as a midfielder with experience as a forward at St. Johns College High School. She broke out as a sophomore in that role with a ridiculous 32 goals on the season to lead her conference in scoring. By her senior year, she was named WCAC Player of the Year as she transitioned to becoming a full-time midfielder, where she made her mark for the U18 U.S. Womens National Team this past year.Although playing time may be sparse for her in her first-year season, her sophomore campaign could be when she emerges as a starter once NU would theoretically be in search of a new offensive spark.Montgomery Ferguson | Fy. | Houston, TexasLike many others, Ferguson was dominant throughout her high school years. She was the only St. Johns freshman to start the Texas State 4A Championship game (which she helped her squad win) en route to earning an invite to USA Field Hockeys U16 Junior National Team selection camp. She became a staple in the top-50 of her class (per Max Field Hockey) and helped St. Johns repeat as state champions in her junior season. She may be the most intriguing midfielder in the room, as her poise makes her a viable option for NU to rely on in the fall.Eleanor Evarts | Fy. | Austin, TexasEvarts earned her stripes at St. Stephens Episcopal by grinding her way up the ladder as a gritty back who reflects the blue-collar identity of the Lone Star State. She was named 9th Grade Female Athlete of the Year and later won the school-wide honor after her junior campaign. After serving as a team captain, she brings a new energy to the Wildcats that reflects players of years past like Annabel Skubisz and Lauren Wadas.Bree Moffett | Fy. | Townsend, Del.Moffetts career at Smyrna signals her willingness to attack the game. Her 45 goal, 13 assist effort her junior year earned her Division 1 Player of the Year honors the first of two during her career. As an offensive midfielder, Moffett has the toolkit to fill the shoes Zimmer has left with time to develop her skillset. She arrives as one of the most sought after recruits in the class of 2026 and it wouldnt be surprising if she etches her name into the starting lineup in due time.

Chicago extended offensive lineman Darnell Wright's NFL contract on Tuesday. The former Vol received a four-year extension through 2031."As we continue to build our team and develop our culture, we are excited that Darnell will remain a cornerstone of our franchise as we work toward creating sustained success," Chicago general manager Ryan Poles said. "Darnell has consistently elevated his play and the performance of his teammates since joining our team, and we look forward to his continued growth and leadership for years to come."Wright played at Tennessee from 2019-22. He appeared in 47 games, including 42 starts, totaling 2,746 offensive snaps.The 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive lineman was selected by the Bears in the first round (No. 10 overall) of the NFL draft in 2023."Our team is rooted in being driven by belief and built by hard work, and Darnell epitomizes our culture in every way," Chicago head coach Ben Johnson said. "We are excited that Darnell will remain an integral member of our team as we work toward championship-level execution in all that we do."More: Green Bay signs former Tennessee tight end in NFL training campFollow Vols Wire onFacebookandX(formerly Twitter).This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Bears 'excited' Darnell Wright will remain cornerstone of franchise

Mike Macdonald's success as Seattle Seahawks head coach is usually attributed to the sweeping overhauls he's made to their defensive scheme and the top-end talent they've acquired. The way he emphasizes the seemingly smaller details among the lesser-known players is the most revealing piece about their culture.Check out this tidbit Hawk Blogger shared on X from Saturday's public training camp practice.A couple of the new players on the Seahawks were headed into the locker room after practice and Mike Macdonald made it clear they needed to turn around and go sign autographs for the fans who came to watch. The standard he sets is about more than football. pic.twitter.com/YvXwZpdg8S Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) August 2, 2026Macdonald knows these players have everything to gain and nothing to lose by signing autographs. Some fan favorites become such through their off-field interactions just as much as their on-field contributions. More importantly, though, he instills his beliefs in his team through his actions. Players enjoy the clear and consistent communication. They grade it well in the NFLPA Report Card yearly. They'd rather be actively coached in the small details than given more leeway.This action from Macdonald embodies one saying you'll hear at any football team's practice. The "weakest link" idiom, which is commonly attributed to Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid's 1769 work Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, is used in football to say "a team is only as strong as its weakest link." Macdonald takes that to heart when referring to the roster as "The 70" to include the practice squad. He calls the lineup "12 as one" to emphasize the sport as the ultimate team game.This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald elaborates on team culture