Billy McKinney Promoted To NY Yankees

BURLINGTON, VT --- The New York Yankees have purchased the contract of Triple-A outfielder Billy McKinney, making the 2013 Vermont outfielder the 101st former Lake Monsters player to reach the Major Leagues all-time.

Along with being the 101st Major League Monster and the 24th different Vermont player in the Major Leagues this season, McKinney is also the ninth member of the 2013 Lake Monsters team to reach the Majors. That breaks a tie with the 2008 Vermont squad for most players from one season to reach the Major Leagues.
Click here to view a complete list of all 101 Major League Monsters
The first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in the 2013 draft out of Plano West (TX) High School, McKinney joined the Lake Monsters late in the 2013 season and hit .353 (12-for-34) with five runs, two doubles, one triple, one homer and six RBI in just nine games for Vermont.
McKinney was traded (along with former Lake Monster and current Major Leaguer Addison Russell) to the Chicago Cubs July 5, 2014 and stayed in the Cubs organization until being traded to the New York Yankees July 25, 2016 in a deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Yanks.
Last season he hit combined .277 with 29 doubles, 16 homers and 64 RBI over 124 games in Double and Triple-A. This spring with the Yankees, McKinney had five home runs and 13 RBI (both tied with Didi Gregorius for the team lead). That included a go ahead grand slam home run in the eighth inning vs. the New York Mets on March 7th.