There were always going to be expectations. That’s the cost of being a prospect — of being a piece of the future — for a New York City baseball team.

For better or for worse, George Lombard Jr. has worn the label of being the next franchise shortstop, the next Derek Jeter. For better or for worse, Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have all been crowned as the next generation of a Mets team insisting it plans on competing in 2027.

But there are subtle differences between these forecasts.

Lombard isn’t tasked with becoming the face of the scuffling Yankees (64-51) or even one of their 10 most important pieces. He’s just the missing piece, someone they hope can spark an October run and develop into a constant at a position that has dealt with as much uncertainty as left field did until Cody Bellinger arrived.