ATLANTA — As soon as droves of scouts began exhibiting as much as his highschool video games this previous season, Dax Kilby realized that getting drafted this summer season was a respectable risk.
Then when the Yankees introduced him to Tampa after his season ended for a non-public exercise, the shortstop started to set his sights and hopes on them particularly.
That got here to fruition Sunday when the Yankees drafted Kilby with their first-round decide (thirty ninth total), with the 18-year-old anticipated to signal Friday afternoon and forgo a dedication to Clemson.
“I’m thrilled to signal and begin working,” Kilby mentioned on a convention name Thursday from the Yankees’ participant growth complicated in Tampa.
Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vp of novice scouting, mentioned earlier this week that the group had eight scouts get their eyes on Kilby within the lead-up to the draft, together with the non-public exercise.
“Particularly being the one one at that exercise, it was simply me right here out of all the opposite prospects, so I felt very just like the focus,” Kilby mentioned. “I felt like I used to be very welcomed and I actually beloved every little thing in regards to the Yankees group whereas I used to be down right here. Main as much as the draft, I knew I needed to be a part of this group. So this was the crew I hoped for going into the draft.”
Kilby, a left-handed hitter who the Yankees imagine can stick at shortstop, mentioned he fashions his swing after Christian Yelich and Jackson Merrill.
Since getting drafted, Kilby mentioned he bought a name from Aaron Boone on Wednesday evening and an Instagram message from Nick Swisher.
“I’m past excited to have the ability to be a part of this nice group,” Kilby mentioned. “I’m very grateful simply to have the ability to play for this very prestigious MLB crew.”
The Yankees on Thursday optioned Clayton Beeter to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for righty reliever Rico Garcia, who they claimed off waivers from the Mets earlier this week.
Beeter has been tagged for six runs on 5 hits and 4 walks throughout two appearances and three ²/₃ innings this season.
