Could 1, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics proper fielder Billy McKinney (28) throughout the ninth inning towards the Cleveland Guardians at RingCentral Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports activities
Oakland A’s: David Forst not going wherever
There was a time when Billy McKinney was one of many prime prospects within the recreation.
The twenty fourth general choice within the 2013 MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s, McKinney was a part of a number of excessive profile trades. He had been despatched to the Cubs as a part of the package deal that introduced Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland in 2014. Two years later, McKinney was despatched to the Yankees as a part of the deal that despatched Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs. He has bounced round since then, spending time with six completely different organizations, together with a second stint with the A’s, from the 2018 commerce deadline to the current.
Billy McKinney nonetheless trying to shed Quad-A label
All through all of it, McKinney remains to be trying to show that he could be a main league asset. That quest has led him to yet one more group, as he has signed with the Yankees for an additional stint.
Whereas McKinney has been assigned to Triple-A, one has to think about that he’ll get a glance throughout the main league portion of spring coaching. Left area is vast open for the Yankees, with Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera, and probably Willie Calhoun all getting seems to be on the place.
McKinney might get an opportunity as properly. He has displayed strong energy throughout his time within the majors, with 28 homers and 33 doubles over his 768 plate appearances. Nevertheless, he has managed a meager .206/.277/.387 batting line in that point, hanging out 201 occasions with 66 walks.
He has been a special participant in Triple-A. McKinney has posted a .271/.348/.511 batting line with 42 homers and 48 doubles in his 992 plate appearances on the highest degree of the minors, hanging out 235 occasions with 96 walks. At 28 years previous, there may be nonetheless time for McKinney to shed his Quad-A label. It’s only a matter of a workforce with the ability to unlock that expertise.
Former Oakland A’s prospect Billy McKinney has discovered one other workforce. This time, the New York Yankees are giving him one other likelihood.
