The Yankees are known for frequently rotating through prospects, focusing on enhancing their value before trading them for established players. Lately, their self-assessment has been spot-on, as not many traded prospects have gone on to achieve great success elsewhere, validating the Yankees’ decisions.

During the trade deadline in 2021, Brian Cashman and his team acquired Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Heaney, Clay Holmes, and Joely Rodríguez by trading away a total of 12 prospects. Most of these prospects, such as Hoy Parks, Glenn Ottos, and Alexander Vizcainos, have largely faded from memory.

But not all of them. Josh Smith is back in The Bronx this week to face an organization he did not know well before saying goodbye.

An example of a player the Yankees could benefit from right now is a versatile and skilled hitter and defender who can excel in multiple positions, like third base. Such a player even earned a Silver Slugger award as a utility player last season, highlighting the impact they could have on the team.

“We’re not where we want to be, but I’d hate to think where we would be without him,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said before Wednesday’s game. 

Smith was a 23-year-old in ’21 who looked around at his competition and suspected he would not be a Yankee for long. A second-round pick out of LSU in 2019, Smith played just a short stint with short-season Staten Island in ’19, like nearly all prospects missed all of 2020, then was surrounded by younger prospects upon resuming his career. 

At High-A Hudson Valley in 2021 was a 20-year-old shortstop named Anthony Volpe. Another promising infield prospect, Oswald Peraza, was 21. 

Smith had dominated Low-A Tampa competition and continued destroying pitchers he faced at Hudson Valley, where he posted a 1.018 OPS in 28 games, but he saw the younger options and saw the proverbial writing on the wall. 

“I kind of always figured I would get traded out of there, to be honest with you,” Smith said from the visiting clubhouse. “I loved my time with the Yankees and everything, but … I just figured if I played well enough, I’d get traded.” 

He was proven correct on July 29, when he was among four prospects to be sent to the Rangers for Gallo and Rodríguez (which would prove an underwhelming return). 

A trade can be hard on anyone, particularly young prospects who have only known one organization in their lives. Smith is an exception. 

“I was pretty excited when it happened just because, it’s a new opportunity,” Smith said. “Like I said, I loved my time with the Yankees. I kind of just saw myself not really moving up very fast with them. And I got traded here, and it worked out perfectly.” 

Perfectly for himself and for the Rangers. Smith debuted in 2022 but broke out last year, when he emerged as a valuable, do-everything defender and hit to a .731 OPS in 149 games. 

He has been even stronger this season, entering play with a .769 OPS, the lefty swinger generally batting leadoff against opposing righties and logging time at shortstop (where he played Wednesday because of Corey Seager’s hamstring strain), third base, first base and all three outfield spots. 

“He’s as good a defender as you can have at every position you put him at,” Bochy said. 

Smith said he still keeps in touch with several around the Yankees and called Volpe “one of my favorites I’ve played with.” 

If the Yankees had chosen differently four years ago, perhaps the two would share the left side of the infield. 

“I am always grateful for the way they treated me there,” Smith said of the Yankees. “They’ve been awesome.”