In the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected shortstop Kaeden Kent from Texas A&M University. The Yankees took back-to-back shortstops with their first two picks.
Kent is not ranked on MLB’s Top 250 Prospects list, so why did the Yankees take that route? Dax Kilby was the first pick by the Bronx Bombers, who is also a shortstop. The club may have a feeling that Kilby may shift over to second base.
Kent, the son of five-time All-Star second baseman Jeff Kent, may be the true shortstop that the Yankees want to develop as such. The 21-year-old college junior was born in Austin, Texas, and attended Lake Travis High School. The infielder has shown his tools and deserves his 103rd overall slot.
Yankees Draft Prospect Profile: Shortstop Kaeden Kent
Kent started in the Southeastern Conference at Texas A&M in 2023 as a freshman. His first season as a collegiate player brought slim playing time, recording only 83 at-bats and a .265 batting average.
To compensate, Kent played summer ball in the Cape Cod League for Chatham, where he prepared himself for his sophomore season. He received 149 at-bats, boosting his batting average to .329 with 49 hits and 22 RBI.
Kent’s sophomore year included 110 at-bats, where he was able to display his true colors. He recorded 36 hits, four home runs, 28 RBI, and a .327 batting average. His biggest selling year was 2025, where his numbers were down from 2024, but he showed his power, launching 13 home runs, accompanied by 49 RBI.
Scouting Synopsis
Kent plays with intensity at the dish and does not take no for an answer. The left-handed hitter digs in, with an aggressive approach at 6’2”, 200 lbs. His approach is contact through the zone, peppering the outside corner.
The prospect can work middle-middle, and middle-in, getting his hands through the ball, and spraying to all fields. He is able to spray the other way, making any sort of shift on defense hard. Kent will also show off raw power, with the ability to go yard.
His bat speed is very evident, and his pitch recognition and plate discipline are noticeable. His hitting comparison is Daulton Varsho of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kaeden Kent is headed to the Big Apple 👍#GigEm pic.twitter.com/9SXNuAV2SB
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) July 14, 2025
Defensively, Kent is a true shortstop, with the ability to play second and third base. Evaluators have him as a projected second baseman, but his arm is workable, and he covers a ton of ground. His general fielding percentage will range between .889 and .938; these numbers were based on ranges within summer ball. Development at the professional shortstop level will be pertinent for Kent.
In addition, physical maturity is present for the infielder, but how he treats his body and develops his movements will be crucial to his advancement within the organization. Kent will be competing with the Yankees’ first-round draft pick, Kilby. The eventual fight for the shortstop spot will be interesting.
Kent shows quick-twitch ability and is athletic to be in the hole. He plays with passion, intensity, and grit. This energy rubs off within his environment, bringing a competitive edge to any ball club. Kent was a huge pick-up by the Yankees.
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