Yankees pivot wildly after Twins steal dream top pick in 2025 MLB Draft

The New York Yankees went nuclear with a puddle of pitching prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft, and early indications from a flurry of mock drafts indicated they'd be quadrupling down on that ambition this July. It was extra easy to connect them to Alabama right-hander Riley Quick, given the way they operated last summer by selecting (and reaching slightly for?) 'Bama's Ben Hess.

Is the big-bodied Quick a starter? Is he a future two-pitch relief ace? Something in between? The chatter sounded a lot like Hess - and also sounded like someone who'd last until the Yankees' first selection at No. 39.

Alas, that did not happen. The Twins swiped Quick three picks ahead of the Yankees at No. 36, with the panel gushing over his ridiculous arm talent. Pitching development analyst Lance Brozdowski named Quick one of his "top five arms in the draft overall". That is A) not what the panel was saying about Hess last year whatsoever and B) a very big bummer.

Despite every indication to the contrary, the Yankees picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and ... took a high school shortstop with the 39th pick instead of going with a different pitcher? It's going to be Dax Kilby, as the Yankees reset the clock yet again behind Anthony Volpe and George Lombard Jr.

Yankees select high school shortstop Dax Kilby after Minnesota Twins steal Riley Quick

Kilby, verbally committed to Clemson, had his name immediately mispronounced by both Rob Manfred (Dax Kirby) and Greg Amsinger (Max Kilby). Good sign? (Adam Sandler voice) "Somebody Kilby pleaaaaaase!"

Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline compared Kilby immediately to Theo Gillen of the Tampa Bay Rays, selected early last year, as a polished lefty bat at the shortstop position at a young age. Amsinger also noted that Kilby was a favorite of Buck Showalter's at the MLB Draft Combine, which should hold weight with Yankee fans of a certain age. His contact is a clear immediate strength, though his arm leaves plenty to be desired. At Pick No. 39, as Dan O'Dowd noted on the broadcast, it's an obvious upside pick.

It's still somewhat stunning the Yankees didn't pivot to the oft-mocked JB Middleton, another right-handed pitcher they'd been connected to from Southern Miss. They must've really liked Kilby - or really put together the smokescreen of the millennium on the available pitchers. Quick would've been nice, but this wild swing could play, too.