The Yankees selected shortstop Josh Smith with their second-round selection (67th overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft. While early signing negotiations failed to yield an agreement, the player eventually signed for his full-slot value of $967,700, becoming the final player to sign among the Yankees’ selections in the first ten rounds.
Smith raked in his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees. He displayed an excellent ability to get on base, walking an incredible 25 times in 33 games. He also showed a surprising amount of pop given his slight stature (5’10”, 172 lbs), which — aided by his bat speed and lofted swing — confirms the belief that he could slug 15-20 home runs after adding mass to his frame.