Looking at 3 Yankees’ Prospects With Momentum Going Into 2027
Here are three Yankees prospects worth keeping an eye on ahead of the 2027 season.
Do the Yankees Have An Elite Prospect on Their Hands?
Prospect: Dax Kilby (SS) | Age: 19.9 | B/T: L/R | Level: Single-A | Top 100 Rank: #80
Dax Kilby missed the majority of the 2026 season with lower-body injuries, and his ability to make contact in-zone got considerably worse as he tried to lift the ball more. These changes led to him stagnating offensively with the Tampa Tarpons, but he made swing changes in the Arizona Fall League that have led to eye-popping results.
He’s driving the baseball with authority, having a 105.1 MPH 90th Percentile Exit Velocity, which is comparable to Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Merrill this season. Kilby is also making more contact in-zone than he did at the Single-A level, as he’s at 88.1% which is firmly above-average.
When I talked to Dax Kilby after he was drafted in 2025, he told me that he “hated striking out” and I believe his feel for contact will always be a part of his game. If he can remain a high-contact hitter while lifting the ball consistently with authority, the Yankees could have their hands on a long-term piece for their offense in 2028 or 2029.
He ranked as the no. 80 prospect on Just Baseball’s top-100 list back in August despite the injuries he dealt with throughout the year, so 2027 could be the season where he finally establishes himself as one of baseball’s best prospects.
Can New York’s Pitching Development Find Another Win?
Prospect: Rory Fox (SP) | Age: 22.7 | B/T: L/R | Level: Double-A | Top 100 Rank: N/A
Rory Fox had an impressive debut season between High- and Double-A as the right-hander was able to miss bats at an above-average rate while keeping the ball on the ground. His improving fastball velocity, feel for spin, and strong command could make him a candidate to breakout as a second-year pro in 2027.
Fox has a four-seamer that sits between 92-94 MPH with good ride, and he can use it to set-up his secondary pitches which have distinct movement profiles and miss bats at an above-average rate. His slider has sharp dropping action in the low-80s, the cutter has good ride in the 88-91 MPH range and the curveball he throws has good two-plane movement that allows him to deceive left-handed batter.
Rory Fox’s mix is already interesting, but he has the capacity to make improvements that could lead to him becoming a reliable backend starter at the Major League level. The first stems from his changeup and sinker usage, both of which could increase with some refinement over the offseason.
The vast majority of Fox’s pitches are moving into lefties and away from righties, so having a usable sinker and changeup would go a long way towards keeping hitters off-balance. We’ve seen the Yankees take a lot of pitchers who spin the ball to the glove-side well and help them add reliable two-seamers/sinkers, with Cam Schlittler being a prominent example in recent times.
As a former multi-sport athlete in high school, Rory Fox’s athleticism is on full display in his mechanics and pitching motion, and there’s a real chance he takes a massive leap forward next season.
A Blossoming Hitter Flying Under the Radar
Prospect: Luis Escudero (2B) | Age: 20.7 | B/T: S/R | Level: Single-A | Top-100: N/A
Luis Escudero is a 5-foot-8 infielder who possesses a lot of the skills that fans have loudly criticized the Yankees for lacking at the Major League level. While he does not hit the ball hard or eye-popping physical tools, Escudero has an argument for possessing the best pitch recognition and plate skills in New York’s farm system.
He was in the 93rd Percentile in Chase% which resulted in him walking over 22% of the time between Single-A and the Complex League, and he paired that with a 95th Percentile Whiff%, which kept that strikeout rate at just 17.2%.
Escudero’s selectiveness should not be mistaken for passiveness; he was in the 99th Percentile in Hittable Pitch Take%, meaning he rarely let pitches in his wheelhouse go by without taking a swing at it. The most impressive part is how many HRs he still hit despite not hitting the ball particularly hard, as Escudero hit 11 homers in just 58 games this season.
Luis Escudero has mastered the art of pulling flyballs, having a 100th Percentile Pulled Flyball% for a Single-A hitter which is aided by his elite recognition skills. Typically a hitter who pulls the ball in the air a lot has issues with chasing or contact since they’re making decisions on when to swing earlier in the ball’s path towards the plate, but Escudero does not suffer from those drawbacks.
My biggest concern here lies with the defense; his second base defense was not sharp as he looked like a firmly below-average defender there this season. His lack of height makes it tough to project him out as a first baseman, and I’m not sure third base will treat him kindly either.
The Yankees could move him to a corner outfield role, but Escudero will have to make some strides there to ensure that his fascinating offensive profile can get some shine in the big leagues.
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Written by
Ryan Garcia uses both scouting and data to try and write about various baseball topics at both the Major League and Minor League levels.