Former Sluggerbird Michael Lombardi Named To The 2026 Spring Breakout Roster For the Kansas City Royals
Mar 16, 2026 | Baseball
NEW ORLEANS – Former Tulane pitcher Michael Lombardi was recently named to the Spring Breakout roster for the Kansas City Royals and will participate in the MLB Spring Breakout 2026 games this season, the organization announced.
The third annual MLB Spring Breakout is from March 19-22, 2026. The preseason spotlight showcases baseball's future stars as clubs assemble their top prospects to play in an exhibition against one another. The event spans four days and includes a total of 16 games. In 2025, 68 of MLB Pipeline's 100 Top Prospects were on one of the rosters.
Lombardi and Royals will take on the Texas Rangers on March 20 in Surprise, Arizona at Surprise Stadium starting at 3 p.m. in the Cactus League. The game can be watched live on Rangers Sports Net, Amazon MLB FAST Channel, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and the MLB app
Lombardi was picked 61st overall in the second round by the Kansas City Royals on July 12 on the first day of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.
Lombardi, who worked as the team's closer as well as playing first base and center field in 2025, led the team and the American Conference with his 11 saves. He went 4-1 on the season with 2.14 ERA along with a team-leading 73 strikeouts in 42 innings worked while only surrendering 20 hits. He put together a career-best performance in the first round of the American Baseball Championship with a seven inning and 11 strikeout effort in earning the dominant victory over Florida Atlantic. He was named the conference's Pitcher of the Week on April 7, 2025 and also was named to the league's weekly honor roll four times throughout the campaign. His 11 saves as a junior tied him for eighth all-time at the school in a single season along with Christian Colletti (2017) and Brandon Belanger (2000).
Aa a hitter in 2025, Lombardi hit .273 with 34 runs scored, 38 hits, nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, 29 RBIs, 63 totaled bases, five stolen bases plus 22 walks compared to just 17 strikeouts in 42 games played and 36 starts.
Lombardi accumulated a career record of 8-6 with an 3.82 ERA in his three years on the mound. In 61 career games and 11 starts, Lombardi fanned 154 batters in 113 innings worked plus totaled 16 saves. His 16 career saves tied him for the seventh-most in school history.
He was the first Tulane player selected in the 2025 draft, the first player selected from an American school last season, the seventh selection from the program over the last two seasons and the 136th player all-time. Lombardi is the highest draft choice for the Green Wave since outfielder Hudson Haskin was drafted in the second round (39th pick overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2020. He is the highest drafted pitcher for the program since Shooter Hunt went in the first round to the Minnesota Twins in 2008 (31st overall).
Lombardi was the seventh Tulane player ever selected by the Kansas City Royals following catcher Jim Gaudet (1976), pitcher Frank Wills (1980), second baseman John Zelenka (1983), pitcher Alex Massey (2016), third baseman Koedy Hoese (2018), and pitcher Jack Aldrich (2021).
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For behind-the-scenes coverage, follow Tulane baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
TICKETS
Tickets for the baseball season and the upcoming football and volleyball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
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GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
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                                                             ---TulaneGreenWave.com---
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The third annual MLB Spring Breakout is from March 19-22, 2026. The preseason spotlight showcases baseball's future stars as clubs assemble their top prospects to play in an exhibition against one another. The event spans four days and includes a total of 16 games. In 2025, 68 of MLB Pipeline's 100 Top Prospects were on one of the rosters.
Lombardi and Royals will take on the Texas Rangers on March 20 in Surprise, Arizona at Surprise Stadium starting at 3 p.m. in the Cactus League. The game can be watched live on Rangers Sports Net, Amazon MLB FAST Channel, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and the MLB app
Lombardi was picked 61st overall in the second round by the Kansas City Royals on July 12 on the first day of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.
Lombardi, who worked as the team's closer as well as playing first base and center field in 2025, led the team and the American Conference with his 11 saves. He went 4-1 on the season with 2.14 ERA along with a team-leading 73 strikeouts in 42 innings worked while only surrendering 20 hits. He put together a career-best performance in the first round of the American Baseball Championship with a seven inning and 11 strikeout effort in earning the dominant victory over Florida Atlantic. He was named the conference's Pitcher of the Week on April 7, 2025 and also was named to the league's weekly honor roll four times throughout the campaign. His 11 saves as a junior tied him for eighth all-time at the school in a single season along with Christian Colletti (2017) and Brandon Belanger (2000).
Aa a hitter in 2025, Lombardi hit .273 with 34 runs scored, 38 hits, nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, 29 RBIs, 63 totaled bases, five stolen bases plus 22 walks compared to just 17 strikeouts in 42 games played and 36 starts.
Lombardi accumulated a career record of 8-6 with an 3.82 ERA in his three years on the mound. In 61 career games and 11 starts, Lombardi fanned 154 batters in 113 innings worked plus totaled 16 saves. His 16 career saves tied him for the seventh-most in school history.
He was the first Tulane player selected in the 2025 draft, the first player selected from an American school last season, the seventh selection from the program over the last two seasons and the 136th player all-time. Lombardi is the highest draft choice for the Green Wave since outfielder Hudson Haskin was drafted in the second round (39th pick overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2020. He is the highest drafted pitcher for the program since Shooter Hunt went in the first round to the Minnesota Twins in 2008 (31st overall).
Lombardi was the seventh Tulane player ever selected by the Kansas City Royals following catcher Jim Gaudet (1976), pitcher Frank Wills (1980), second baseman John Zelenka (1983), pitcher Alex Massey (2016), third baseman Koedy Hoese (2018), and pitcher Jack Aldrich (2021).
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For behind-the-scenes coverage, follow Tulane baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
TICKETS
Tickets for the baseball season and the upcoming football and volleyball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Â
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
Â
                                                             ---TulaneGreenWave.com---
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Players Mentioned
RHP/INF
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