Going into last year, there was considerable hype around New York Yankees shortstop Dax Kilby, who was drafted by the team in 2025 and had a very impressive showing in limited minor-league action during his debut campaign.
Kilby slashed .353/.457/.441 over 81 plate appearances with 16 stolen bases at Single-A Tampa in 2025, putting himself on a national radar fairly quickly.
In fact, many had Kilby tabbed as a top-100 prospect heading into 2026.
However, the 20-year-old was unable to wholly flash his abilities this past year, as nagging hamstring injuries limited him to just 36 games.
Kilby performed well enough in limited action, slashing .242/.427/.403 across 164 trips to the dish, but he didn't play nearly enough to increase his stock.
Actually, because he was hurt most of the year, his stock actually dropped. His lack of power didn't do him any favors, either.
Now, it's up to the youngster to rebuild himself as an elite prospect next season, and he could ultimately have a job alongside George Lombard Jr. waiting for him.
It seems unlikely that Kilby will stay at shortstop long term. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Lombard is the Yankees' shortstop of the future, and there have been some concerns about Kilby's defense at the position anyway.
More than likely, the Newnan, Ga. native will shift to second base, where he and Lombard could comprise a fantastic middle-infield combination for years to come.
That is, of course, assuming New York doesn't trade Kilby first, but given that has value has dipped over the last year, such a move seems unlikely.
Kilby is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League and has looked terrific, slashing .288/.347/.591 through 75 plate appearances. If he can continue similar production next season, it would obviously go a long way.
The former first-round was being touted as the best hitter in the Yankees' system before 2026, and based on how he has swung the bat in a small sample size, it's easy to see why.
New York has been heavily criticized for not properly developing young hitters in recent years. We've seen the Yanks flesh out plenty of good pitchers, but position players have been few and far between.
In fact, Kilby — who is currently the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees' organization — is the only position player within New York's top 10.
That's why it's imperative that Kilby takes a big step forward next spring, which will require him actually staying on the field.