Pinecrest shortstop Jacob Lombard went 14th overall to the Miami Marlins on Saturday, giving the 18-year-old Gulliver Prep star a choice that will define his summer: sign with his hometown team or honor his commitment to play at the University of Miami.

Lombard was ranked the No. 5 prospect in the 2026 class by MLB Pipeline but slid on draft day. Bleacher Report noted that four prep prospects came off the board ahead of him as teams in the top 13 favored high-contact hitters. CBS Sports had projected him as high as No. 4 to the San Francisco Giants.

Frankie Piliere, the Marlins' vice president of amateur forecasting and player evaluation initiatives, told MLB.com he was thrilled with the pick and excited for South Florida fans to watch Lombard develop.

Marlins' Third First-Round Pick Ever From South Florida

The selection marks just the third time in franchise history the Marlins have used a first-round pick on a South Florida product. The previous two: catcher Charles Johnson out of UM in 1992 and pitcher Chris Volstad from Palm Beach Gardens High in 2005.

A Toolsy Shortstop With a Swing-and-Miss Question

Lombard stands 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and bats right-handed. MLB Pipeline grades his run tool at 65 and his power at 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale. MLB.com's Jim Callis projects 30-homer, 30-steal potential at the major league level. His senior season at Gulliver backed up the tools: a .477 batting average with nine home runs.

The knock? Swing-and-miss. The Athletic's Keith Law reported a 39% whiff rate during tracked showcase events in 2025, with pitchers exploiting him with fastballs up in the zone.

A Baseball Family With Its Own Big League History

Baseball runs deep in the Lombard family. His father, George Lombard Sr., was a second-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1994, appeared in parts of six big league seasons and is the Detroit Tigers' bench coach. Older brother George Jr. went in the first round in 2023 and ranks as the Yankees' No. 1 prospect. Jacob told the MLB Pipeline Podcast he dreams of facing his brother in the majors.

"I'm thinking so far ahead in terms of a possibility of playing with my brother, hitting a home run and rounding second and smiling at him while he's at shortstop," Lombard said. "That is something I smile about going to bed every single night."

Signing Deadline Looms Later This Month

Lombard and the Marlins have until July 27 at 5 p.m. ET to agree on a deal. If no agreement is reached, Lombard can enroll at UM and re-enter the draft in three years.