The Trenton Thunder outfielder Billy McKinney warms up before a game against the against the Altoona Curve at ARM & HAMMER Park in Trenton on Monday July 28, 2016. The Yankees acquired the left handed McKinney from the Cubs as part of a deal for Aroldis Chapman on Monday. Monday was his first time suiting up with the Thunder (Photo by Martin Griff)

News

Billy McKinney Added to Spring Training Roster

James Vlietstra

Published

February 19, 2017

The New York Yankees PR department has announced that Billy McKinney has been added to the spring training roster. This move raises a number of players in camp to 66.

The @yankees have added OF Billy McKinney to their list of spring training non-roster invitees.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) February 19, 2017

McKinney, a 22-year old outfielder, was a first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2013 MLB June amateur draft. The Yankees acquired him along with Adam Warren, Gleyber Torres, and Rashad Crawford in last July’s trade of Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs.

Last year, McKinney played in Double-A for both the Cubs’ and Yankees’ organizations. He combined to play 123 games and hit .246/.342/.338. The left-handed hitter from Dallas, Texas stands 6’1” and weighs 205 pounds.

McKinney enters the 2017 season ranked by Pinstriped Prospects as the 28th top prospect in the Yankees’ system. He will be Rule 5 eligible at the conclusion of the season. The Yankees want to get a closer look at him, so they have a better idea of what they have.