NEW YORK — He is Yankees’ prospect no. 3. But he has not played in a single game for them in 2026.
The rookie has not stepped on the field at Single-A Tampa. He has not lifted a bat in a competitive inning all season.
Somehow, his stock has gone up anyway.
MLB Pipeline released its updated Top 100 prospect list this week. The Yankees’ 19-year-old shortstop, Dax Kilby, climbed from No. 94 in January to No. 70. That is a 24-spot jump for a player whose 2026 has so far consisted entirely of rehab work on a hamstring injury.
The reasoning says more about Kilby’s 2025 debut than any 2026 stat line could. The brief showing left a strong enough impression for the Yankees prospect to climb despite the missing months.
Why MLB Pipeline pushed Kilby up the board
The Yankees got four prospects in the top 100. But this case stands out.
The basis for Kilby’s Yankees rise traces back to his 18-game pro debut at Single-A Tampa last summer. The numbers were absurd for a teenager in his first taste of professional baseball.
In those 18 games, Kilby hit .353/.457 with two doubles, two triples, nine RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He drew 13 walks against only 11 strikeouts. For a 19-year-old left-handed hitter in his first pro look, that walk-to-strikeout ratio is the kind of plate discipline number scouts circle.
MLB Pipeline did not need new game data to maintain confidence in him. They had seen enough from those 18 games to project the rest. The 24-spot jump is the industry’s way of saying the hamstring strain is a delay, not a reassessment.
Kilby now ranks third among Yankees prospects on the Top 100 list, behind only George Lombard Jr. (No. 21) and Elmer Rodriguez (No. 63). Carlos Lagrange ranks No. 76, just behind Kilby. The Yankees have four prospects in the Top 100 and Kilby is the only one of the four currently unable to play.
The hamstring delay that has kept Kilby off the field
Kilby opened the 2026 season on the seven-day injured list at Single-A Tampa with a hamstring strain. Nearly a month into the season, he is still there. He has yet to make his 2026 debut.
The good news, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, is that the delay has been driven more by caution than by the severity of the injury itself. Kilby is already ramping up baseball activities. A May return remains realistic if the rehab continues on track.
The Yankees have no reason to rush him. He is 19. His value to the organization is long-term. A hamstring strain does not require aggressive timeline pressure.
What Kilby showed before he got hurt
The Yankees selected Kilby with the 39th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Newnan High School in Georgia. He signed for an over-slot bonus of $2,797,500, forgoing his commitment to Clemson. He was the Yankees’ top 2025 draft pick.
The exit velocity numbers from Kilby’s Tampa debut were unusual for his age. He posted a 93.1 mph average exit velocity (98th percentile) and a 105.6 mph 90th percentile exit velocity (87th percentile). For big league context, that average matches the profile of Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Pete Alonso and Manny Machado. His triple registered at 106.6 mph. He posted a 150 wRC+ across the 18 games.
Baseball America gave Kilby several superlatives in its offseason coverage. He was named the best hitter (contact tool), the fastest base runner and the best athlete in the Yankees’ system. Those three categories rarely appear together in evaluations of teenagers.
Keith Law, who has been more conservative on Kilby than most evaluators, ranked him No. 101 on his industry list. Even leaving him off the official Top 100, Law’s commentary on Kilby has been positive.
The scouting profile and what the Yankees see long-term
MLB.com’s scouting report described Kilby’s left-handed swing as quick and compact, with a mature approach and the ability to drive the ball gap to gap. He stands 6-foot-2 with room to add strength on his projectable frame.
With his plus speed and aggressive baserunning, Kilby profiles as a 20-20 player with more upside. He stole 16 bases in 18 games at Tampa. He hit zero home runs in his debut, but his 55 percent ground ball rate explains it. As he learns to elevate, the power output should follow.
The one open Yankees question with Kilby is his defensive home. Early shoulder issues in high school left him with a slightly funky arm action. He may not have the throw to remain at shortstop long-term. Many evaluators see him profiling better at second base or center field, where his speed and athleticism would still play.
The Yankees have a recent track record drafting prep shortstops late in the first round. Anthony Volpe in 2019. George Lombard Jr. in 2023. Both shot up the Yankees’ system quickly. Kilby fits the pattern.
The Yankees are getting a player whose 2026 may end up being about staying healthy and building rhythm rather than chasing promotion. His national stock has not dropped. The 24-spot Yankees Top 100 jump confirms it. When Kilby returns to the field, the spotlight will be brighter than ever, even without a single 2026 game on his record.
What do you think about Kilby’s Yankees future?
