After three trades, Billy McKinney seeks stability with Blue Jays

Mark Suleymanov

After three trades, Billy McKinney seeks stability with Blue Jays image

NEW YORK - Billy McKinney made his Major League Baseball debut with the Yankees in Toronto in March, but his first career game at Yankee Stadium came as a member of the Blue Jays.

“It definitely surprised me, it’s a cool story I can tell people, I guess,” McKinney said to Sporting News. “The odds are pretty slim for that. It’s something I’m looking forward to telling my family.”

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Toronto acquired the outfielder -- along with infielder Brandon Drury -- in the trade that sent veteran left-hander J.A. Happ to New York last month. The 23-year-old was ranked as the Yankees 20th best prospect by MLB Pipeline.

McKinney began the season with the Yankees and was recalled on the second day of the season after Aaron Hicks went on the disabled list. However, McKinney followed Hicks’ path to the DL just two days later.

In the first inning of the Yankees’ Mar. 31 contest against the Blue Jays, McKinney chased a flyball off the bat of Josh Donaldson and crashed violently into the left field wall.

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“I was more worried, running into the wall, in case I had a concussion or not,” McKinney said. “I wasn’t really worried and felt alright -- my back was a little tight but you get that throughout the season regardless so I decided to stick it out.”

The next batter lined a base hit to left field in front of McKinney, and throwing the ball back into the infield, he knew something was wrong.

“My shoulder was really tight [on the throw] and unfortunately I had to come out [of the game],” McKinney added. “It was unfortunate, but everything happens for a reason.”

The Yankees placed McKinney on the disabled list with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. After missing all of April and most of May, McKinney was activated off the DL and sent down to Triple-A.

As an outfielder, McKinney was blocked from consistent playing in New York. Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton comprise the Yankees’ strong outfield that, when healthy, is among MLB’s best. The only reason McKinney even had a chance to be called up in March was because Clint Frazier (concussion) and Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) were injured too.

A former first-round pick (24th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2013, McKinney has consistently been rated as a top prospect, but without a steady baseball home. He has been part of three major trades in his career, and he's hoping for stability this time around.

“I was excited for the opportunity to come here," McKinney said.

In his first game with the Blue Jays on Saturday, McKinney made an immediate impact, recording his first two hits.Acting right fielder Neil Walker booted McKinney's first Blue Jays knock which turned from a two-run single into three runs scored and McKinney sliding past third base and being tagged out.

"I was just trying to stay in the moment," McKinney said of his big afternoon. "I'm glad to be here with the Blue Jays and couldn't be more excited for the future here."

With Toronto focused on the future, McKinney's age and consistent status as a top prospect makes him a candidate as a possible long-term fixture in the outfield.

Mark Suleymanov