On Sunday, the New York Yankees selected two players over the first three rounds of the 2025 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. With their first-round selection (39th overall), the club drafted INF Dax Kilby out of Newnan H.S. (Ga.). In the third round, the Yankees chose INF Kaeden Kent out of Texas A&M University with the 103rd overall pick.
Kilby, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound infielder, hit .495 with 53R, 11 doubles, 4 triples, 5HR, 42RBI, 33BB and 15SB as a senior at a Newnan H.S. Additionally, the infielder led Newnan H.S. to the Class 5A championship this past season −the school’s first championship since 1991− and earned GHSA (Georgia High School Association) MVP honors in the tournament.
The left-handed batter was also named by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as the 2024-25 Baseball Player of the Year in Georgia and as ITG Next’s 2025 Georgia Male Athlete of the Year. He was also named by ABCA/Rawlings to the Region 3 High School All-Region Team and High School All-America Second Team.
“Dax is a strong-bodied and athletic left-handed hitting shortstop,” said Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees Vice President of Domestic Amateur Scouting. “We really like his potential and ability to swing the bat, plus, he’s an excellent runner. As a high schooler, Dax has already shown an accomplished bat, a great feel to hit, and on top of that, some pop, which is exciting for us.”
At the MLB Draft Combine this past June, Kilby ran a 3.55 in the 30-yard dash, the fourth-fastest time among all participants.
Entering the 2025 draft, the 18-year-old was ranked as the No. 62 overall draft prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 75 by Baseball America.
The selection of Kilby marks the fourth time in the last seven years (since 2019) the Yankees have used their first-round selection on an infielder, joining George Lombard Jr. in 2023, Trey Sweeney in 2021 and Anthony Volpe in 2019. The Yankees have selected a high school player with their first-round selection in five of their last 10 First-Year Player Drafts (since 2016).
Kent, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound infielder, hit .279/.398/.544 (57-for-204) with 52R, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 13HR, 49RBI, 37BB and 4SB in 56 games with Texas A&M in 2025, starting each game at shortstop. Over three collegiate seasons with the Aggies, the left-handed batter slashed .290/.389/.494 (115-for-397) with 84R, 23 doubles, 2 triples, 18HR, 100RBI, 61BB and 7SB in 135 games. In the 2024 College World Series, Kent batted .417 (10-for-24) with 1HR and 7RBI in six games, being named to the 2024 College World Series All-Tournament Team.
He is the son of five-time All-Star and 2000 National League MVP Jeff Kent.
“Our scouting for Kaeden goes back to the Cape Cod League, where we’ve had success watching college athletes play well in a professional environment. He also played well two years ago with Texas A&M in the College World Series. He’s a left-handed hitter, athletic, and can really play shortstop, which he showed us this past year,” said Oppenheimer. “Growing up around his father, Kaeden has experienced elite baseball, so he knows what it takes and has seen what his dad had to do to be a successful ballplayer. For us, Kaeden has made a name for himself.”
Kent is a two-time Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star and slashed .299/.373/.390 (76-for-254) with 36R, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 3HR, 35RBI, 30BB and 3SB in 69 games over two seasons with the Chatham Anglers (2023) and Brewster Whitecaps (2024).
The 2025 First-Year Player Draft concludes on Monday with rounds four through 20, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET.
INF DAX KILBY
Selection: First Round (39th overall)
School: Newnan H.S. (Ga.)
Hometown: Newnan, Ga.
DOB: 11/17/2006 Age: 18
Bats: L Throws: R
Height: 6'2" Weight: 190 lbs.
INF KAEDEN KENT
Selection: Third Round (103rd overall)
School: Texas A&M University
Hometown: Austin, Tex.
DOB: 8/29/2003 Age: 21
Bats: L Throws: R
Height: 6'2" Weight: 200 lbs.
