Yankees' top 2025 draft pick posting eye-popping numbers in pro debut

The New York Yankees' chances of dominating the 2025 MLB Draft were somehow even lower this year than last, when they went all-in on pitching in hopes of striking gold once or twice (and it looks like they did). This year, because MLB hates teams that spend money, the Yankees' top pick was bumped out of the first round as punishment for the horrible crime of "trying". Their No. 1 selection came at pick 39, one behind the Mets and one ahead of the Dodgers in financial purgatory.

Expectations were certainly muted. Most believed the Yankees would take whatever second-round-ish collegiate arm fell to their position. Most believed ... wrong. Instead, the Yankees took a projectable high school infielder in Dax Kilby, one choice after the Mets chose more of a known quantity in Mitch Voit, the Michigan man who snorted the foul line.

The 21-year-old Voit has a .513 OPS at Low-A St. Lucie, so his career is unfortunately already over (kidding). Kilby, who turns 19 in November? His game has translated very well to the low minors, and his performance metrics are off the charts.

His best game of the season came on Tuesday, upping his early counting stats to .308 with a .400 OBP and .810 OPS, along with eight steals in just 10 games. More notably, Kilby's keen eye and powerful stroke indicate significant growth potential as he ages and rises.

Yankees' top MLB Draft pick Dax Kilby reaches new heights in Low-A Tampa

JB Middleton, the Southern Miss righty the Yankees were projected to take in the final weeks before the draft, went four picks later to the Rockies instead. That should be a fun one to watch during Kilby's climb.

Metrics aren't everything — and they certainly aren't everything less than two weeks into someone's professional tenure — but Kilby appears to be extremely skilled at controlling the zone with a tendency to hit the ball hard.

Now, if we can only get him to tailor his lefty swing a little bit towards pulling the ball at Yankee Stadium...

Last summer, the Yankees used their draft disadvantage to go all in on tweener pitching, and they appear to have hit on Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, two of their better prospects, as well as Griffin Herring and Gage Ziehl, used at this year's trade deadline (don't talk to me about Austin Slater).

This time around, their strategy was more varied, with infielders Kilby and Kaeden Kent leading the way. Kilby's development will be a fun storyline to follow over the next year far below the surface. Already, his baseline tools appear to be more advanced than most expected.