Billy McKinney’s first stint with the Yankees solely lasted two video games. Five years later, he’s earned one other shot with the Bombers.
The Yankees added McKinney to their lively roster on Wednesday after they positioned Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured listing and put Ryan Weber on the 60-day IL. McKinney first joined the Yankees’ group as a prospect in 2016 after they acquired him, Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren and Rashad Crawford from the Cubs for Aroldis Chapman. McKinney then made his main league debut and picked up his first hit with the Yanks on March 30, 2018, however he solely appeared in a single different recreation for the staff, which got here the very subsequent day.
The Yankees shipped McKinney and Brandon Drury to the Blue Jays for J.A. Happ that summer season, thus starting a well-traveled profession for McKinney. He noticed main league motion with the Jays, Brewers, Mets, Dodgers and Athletics earlier than rejoining the Yankees on a minor league deal this previous winter.
McKinney, 28, slashed .274/.388/.511 with 9 residence runs and 25 RBI over 40 video games at Triple-A this yr. The lefty swinger performed all three outfield spots for the RailRiders, however he spent extra time at first base than another place.
“A little defensive flexibility,” Aaron Boone stated of McKinney on Wednesday. “Been raking for a month and a half now. Really, really playing well. Kind of earned the opportunity.”
McKinney hasn’t been a lot of a hitter within the large leagues, slashing .206/.277/.387 with 28 homers, 72 RBI and a 79 OPS+ over 263 video games.
But he’s performed nicely within the minors, and the Yankees didn’t have many different choices. Boone stated various decisions included Franchy Cordero, who was already on the 40-man roster, and Estevan Florial.
Cordero loved a sensational two weeks on the Yankees’ roster firstly of the season earlier than falling right down to earth. He’s hitting .342/.444/.566 with two residence runs and 17 RBI at Triple-A.
Florial, a former prime prospect, hasn’t made a lot of restricted large league alternatives up to now and fell off the 40-man roster in early April. But he’s hit .317/.420/.623 with 12 longballs and 30 RBI for the RailRiders, and he’s a pure centerfielder, one thing the Yankees don’t have on their lively roster proper now.
Still, Boone favored McKinney.
“We considered both, and frankly, Flo has been doing a good job,” Boone stated. “Franchy’s been doing a good job. And Billy’s been really doing a good job. The moment in time now, Billy made the most sense.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com