The New York Yankees have added one of the pieces of the Aroldis Chapman blockbuster trade to the list of spring training non-roster invitees.
Billy McKinney, one of the prospects the New York Yankees acquired in the Aroldis Chapman trade with the Chicago Cubs, has earned himself a showcase in front of the big boys.
The Yankees’ PR department made the announcement on Sunday that the 22-year old outfielder has been added to the list of non-roster invitees.
McKinney was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2013 out of Plano West High School and was regarded by scouts as being one of the better bats in the draft.
He was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the A’s organization, but was traded to the Cubs on July 5, 2014, along with Addison Russell, Dan Straily and cash. Oakland received Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija in return.
In 2015, the lefty-swinging McKinney started off the season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A) and went 35-for-103 (.340) in 29 games before earning a promotion to Double-A, where he hit .285 and drove in 39 runs in 77 games.
Entering 2016, he was rated as BaseballProspectus.com‘s 74th best prospect in the game. He would return to Double-A and hit .252 leading up to the blockbuster trade that saw he, Rashad Crawford, Gleyber Torres and Adam Warren come to New York.
McKinney slashed just .234/.310/.375 in 35 games with his new team, but with an MLB ETA of 2017, this may be a kid we’ll start to hear more about.
