TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees farm system has produced Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler in recent years. Both made immediate impacts at the MLB level. Now the organization is watching two more prospects who could take significant leaps in 2026.
Right-handed pitcher Cade Smith and shortstop Dax Kilby headline a group of young players at critical junctures in their development. One is a 23-year-old coming off a dominant Arizona Fall League showing. The other is a 19-year-old first-round pick who has already rocketed up prospect boards.
Spring training opens in less than two weeks. Both players will be trying to prove they belong at higher levels. The outcome will shape the Yankees’ organizational depth for years to come.
Cade Smith dominates in Arizona
The right-hander shares a name with Cleveland’s shutdown reliever. But the Yankees’ Cade Smith is carving his own path with a distinctly different pitch arsenal. He relies on elite spin rates on his slider, curve and fastball rather than overpowering velocity.
“I hear it all the time,” Smith said before a game in the Arizona Fall League in November. “All I can do is say this is who I am. And go out and pitch.”
He did exactly that. Smith went 21 batters before allowing his first hit in the AFL. He struck out 14 over 12 2/3 innings while walking just two. His ERA was 2.13 in a league where pitchers combined for a bloated 6.04 ERA.
“Getting the breaking ball over for strikes early makes a difference,” Smith said. “Then I can get outs with my fastball, too. The big thing is command. You have to throw strikes.”
He capped his AFL run with a nine-pitch scoreless inning in the Fall Stars Game. The performance caught the attention of the entire organization.
From College World Series champion to Yankees prospect
Smith first gained notice at Mississippi State. His relief work helped the Bulldogs win the 2021 College World Series. He went 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA during that championship run. He had also won two state titles in high school.
The Yankees drafted him in the sixth round in 2023 with pick No. 192. He signed for $282,900. Historically, 11 others drafted at that slot have reached the majors.
A sore right shoulder limited Smith to 11 starts and 39 2/3 innings last summer. But when healthy, he thrived. He struck out 42 batters while posting a 2.50 ERA at High-A Hudson Valley.
“Everything’s changed,” Smith told MLB.com’s Jesse Borek. “I’m paying more attention to execution instead of just being a thrower.”
Dax Kilby impresses in first taste of pro ball
The Yankees took Kilby with the 39th overall pick last July. The Georgia high schooler was committed to Clemson. He chose to sign instead. The decision is already paying dividends.
Kilby went directly to Single-A Tampa and slashed .353/.457/.441 in 18 games. He walked 13 times and struck out just 11. For an 18-year-old facing professional pitching for the first time, those numbers are remarkable.
MLB Pipeline now ranks Kilby No. 94 among all MLB prospects. Baseball America has him at No. 61. Both outlets named him to their Top 100 lists entering 2026. He was ranked 62nd among draft prospects just six months ago.
“Dax is a strong-bodied and athletic left-handed-hitting shortstop,” said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting. “We really like his potential and ability to swing the bat, plus, he’s an excellent runner.”
What 2026 holds for both prospects
Smith is slated for Double-A Somerset this season. He turns 24 in June. The clock is ticking. He needs to prove he can dominate at higher levels. A strong first half could put him in position for a promotion to Triple-A.
Kilby will likely start at High-A Hudson Valley. The 19-year-old has time on his side. But his advanced approach at the plate suggests he could move quickly. His strike-zone discipline and bat-to-ball skills are already well above average for his age.
The Yankees already have four prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. George Lombard Jr. leads the group at No. 32. Pitchers Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz join Kilby among the ranked players.
Smith and Kilby represent the next wave. Their 2026 seasons will determine whether they join that elite group or fall behind. For a franchise trying to build sustainable success, developing homegrown talent has never been more important.
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