Yankees Select Cole Prosek 35th Overall

The Yankees will add a Mississippi high school infielder with the 35th pick on Saturday, according to Baseball America’s final mock draft. Competitive‑balance tax penalties pushed New York’s first selection back ten spots, forcing the club to reach deeper than usual for value. This shift also aligns with the team’s need for depth at catcher and third base, two spots where Prosek has already logged some experience.

Cole Prosek attends Magnolia Heights High School in Senatobia, Mississippi. He bats left‑handed, primarily at third base, but he has also worked behind the plate this spring. The 19‑year‑old is committed to Ole Miss and projects as a power threat with a compact swing.

Missouri High School Star Hits for Over .500

Prosek capped his senior year with a .585 average, 79 RBIs and 18 home runs while guiding his squad to a state championship. He also threw a 3.16 ERA as a pitcher, earning two‑way honors and recognition as Prep Baseball Mississippi Player of the Year. His late‑season surge earned him MVP honors at the 2025 Perfect Game All‑American Classic.

MLB Pipeline gives Prosek a 60 grade for hit‑tool strength and a 50 for raw power, labeling him a quick left‑handed swinger. Scouts note he may be less physically projected than peers like Eric Booth and Kevin Roberts Jr., but they also say he is a better pure hitter. The organization’s evaluation highlights an “advanced bat” that could develop into a 25‑home‑run power source.

Yankees’ Defensive Concerns and Development Plan

From a defensive standpoint, Prosek lacks the speed and lateral range typical of middle‑infielders, making third base his more realistic long‑term home. His catching work this spring is viewed as promising but still a project, with no guarantee it will translate at the major‑league level. ESPN draft analyst Kiley McDaniel remains enthusiastic, stressing that Prosek’s bat outweighs the defensive questions.

“Prosek is an advanced hitter with 25‑homer upside from the left side,” McDaniel wrote, as quoted by ESPN. “He’ll be 19 years old on draft day, a clear no‑go for some teams, but the Yankees aren’t one of those teams.” The club’s willingness to accept age quirks mirrors a recent pattern of selecting prep talents in early rounds.

Family Ties and Yankees Draft History

Prosek is the nephew of Milwaukee Brewers third‑base coach Matt Erickson, giving him a baseball pedigree that runs through coaching circles. The Yankees have taken three prep players in the first round over the last four drafts, breaking only when Alabama right‑handed pitcher Ben Hess slipped off the board. This mock places Prosek at 35, while Baseball America still projects Bo Lowrance a few spots earlier at 21.

Whether New York actually uses the 35th pick on Prosek will depend on how the board unfolds in Philadelphia. If the mock holds, the Yankees add a bat evaluators trust more than the average older prep prospect, even though the defensive projection remains a work in progress. The move reflects a patience with age and a willingness to gamble on tools that could develop into a reliable offensive contributor.