MAKING BILLY MCKINNEY RELEVANT

(Photo by Mike Janes)

I like what the Yankees are doing with their young players.  They are using them, playing them in the Bigs, and then you got plenty of youngsters down in the minor leagues that are getting a lot of bats, a lot of training and becoming important factors in their future.  Gleyber Torres is by far the most special player I've seen in a long time and he headlines the MLB.com's top 100 list.  That's right... he's number 1.  Read HERE.

I found this nugget pretty cool, and it has to do with prospect Billy McKinney.  McKinney came over to the Yankees last season from the Cubs when they sent Aroldis Chapman there.  Yanks also got Torres in that deal.  But McKinney is someone the Yankees have high hopes for.  This New York Post article shares more:

"One of the Yankees’ top prospects, Billy McKinney, will play first base for the first time during instructional league, as the Yankees look to increase his value.

The 23-year-old McKinney also will continue to play both corner-outfield spots.

Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

McKinney, who bats and throws lefty, excelled at the plate after being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the season. In 209 plate appearances, he had an OPS of .877."

Now while that doesn't seem like much, it is.  What happens is his value can be increased for a future trade, or his talent will be something that the Yankees will want in the Bigs when the time is right.  Whatever the case, this is a win, win for everyone, and it's extra special because McKinney was just an extra piece back when that trade with the Cubs was made.  But now, he and the Yankees have an opportunity to make him more relevant, more important in the future of the franchise and for him personally as a player.

I don't know, I just found it interesting. Carry on...


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