Fox Lane grad Michael Lombardi selected in MLB draft

Michael Lombardi shown in action on the mound for Tulane this spring. (Tulane University athletics photo)

Lombardi’s draft card to show that he had been selected in the MLB draft. Contributed photo

Fox Lane coach Matt Hillis (left) poses with Michael Lombardi and Nick Serio, the founder of VeloU after Lombardi was selected in the draft. ( Jim MacLean Photo)

By JIM MACLEAN

From the first time he met him as a young kid showing up for varsity try outs, Fox Lane baseball coach Matt Hillis knew he had something special in Michael Lombardi.

From day one Lombardi left his mark at Fox Lane, a four-year varsity starter as a shortstop and a pitcher, he dominated to earn his spot amongst the great players in Fox Lane baseball history. After graduating in 2022, Lombardi went on to Tulane University where he turned in a great junior season, drawing attention from plenty of major league scouts. That set the stage for draft night as Lombardi waited with his family and Hillis and many of his friends and former teammates waiting to see if he would be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday, July 13.

They didn’t have to wait long. On the first day, in the second round, with the 61st pick overall in the draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Lombardi. Now, he is off to start a new chapter, the next step toward fulfilling his dream of playing major league baseball.

“When his name came across the screen, it was a very exciting moment,” Hillis said of sharing the moment with Lombardi and his family and friends. “Ever since he was a little kid he had his dreams set on playing Fox Lane varsity, playing in college, and getting drafted, that was his dream and he’s about to live it.”

For Hillis, it was another thrilling moment in a great year for his Fox Lane baseball program. Just about a month after winning a Section 1 championship and advancing to the New York state championship game for the first time ever in Fox Lane history, Hillis and the Foxes had the chance to celebrate with Lombardi, another unforgettable moment for a baseball coach and a player.

After the season Lombardi turned in at Tulane, everyone had a good idea the dream would be fulfilled on draft day. After winning the state regional title game down on Long Island to advance to the state final four, Hillis got a call from his former roommate, Tom McNamara, who is now an assistant in the Royals organization, asking Hillis to set up a meeting with Lombardi.

“We had a pretty good feeling, my former roommate is an assistant with Kansas City and after our Garden City game he asked me to set up a breakfast with Michael and it lasted about two hours,” explained Hillis. “He had seen him pitch and knew what he could do physically, but after that breakfast he texted me and told me how impressed he was with Michael as a person. Michael is as good as it gets, you’re not going to find a more deserving kid.”

Kansas City was not the only major league organization interested in Lombardi. He drew the attention of every team after his performance on the mound at Tulane this spring for his junior year.

Lombardi was a dominant relief pitcher, finishing with 11 saves to lead the American Athletic Conference. He had a 4-1 overall record with a 2.14 earned run average and 73 strikeouts. He saved his best game for last in the AAC tournament, where he hurled seven innings and struck out 11 to earn the win over Florida Atlantic to help Tulane advance.

That type of performance in college was no surprise to Hillis after watching Lombardi dominate as an All-Section star for the Foxes. Hillis knew he had all the tools and talent to make it, and he also knew the personality and leadership skills that Lombardi has to help him go far in the game of baseball.

“He led in all the right ways, he was an ideal teammate,” explained Hillis. “Every time he took the field he led by example, but even more important was how he handled his teammates with respect and he got that same respect in return.”

For Hillis and his program, it was just another surreal moment to cap off an amazing year for Fox Lane baseball. In addition to the championship run for the Foxes this spring, Hillis now has three former Foxes drafted into Major League Baseball. Henry Davis was a No. 1 draft pick out of Louisville and is currently playing in the majors as a catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tyler Renz was selected in the draft last year right out of high school and is currently pitching in the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League system, and now Lombardi will be off to pitch in the Royals Minor League system after he signs his first professional baseball contract.

With three former players now in the pro ranks, and eight players that just graduated who will be playing in college next year, young players in the Fox Lane program have a lot of examples to look up to if they want to follow in their footsteps.

“They’re looking at three kids drafted with Fox Lane roots and it gives them all something to shoot for,” admitted Hillis. “It’s kind of an outlier, a Section 1 program with three draft choices in such a short period. They did it. They keep continuing to put in the work. The kids see the standard of excellence they’ve established, how they progressed past Fox Lane and the high expectations and standards they set for themselves. Michael was a four-year varsity starter for us. He’s earned everything he gets and we’re very proud of him.”