Yankees: Billy McKinney could become the best pro from Chapman haul

Back in July of 2016, when the Yankees sent Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for Adam Warren and a package of prospects, Billy McKinney was considered by many as a throw-in piece. Less than two years later he’s playing like a bonafide first-round draft pick.

Let me start out by saying I love Yankees prospect, Billy McKinney’s offensive game. The 23-year-old Texas native has a smooth, repeatable swing that allows him to get his hands out in front of the plate quickly — taking advantage of a sturdy lower half to power the ball to all fields.

There isn’t much wiggle in his bat — his feet firmly planted in the batter’s box. I liken his approach at the plate to that of Padres’ first baseman Eric Hosmer.

In Tuesday’s 7-2 Yankees victory over the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., McKinney tore the cover off the ball with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning for his third blast of the early spring season.

Billy the Kid’s three home runs and seven RBI through 15 Grapefruit League at-bats, is second on the team to Miguel Andujar’s four long balls and eight RBI in 22 at-bats.

Conversely, the centerpiece of the Chapman trade, Gleyber Torres, has scuffled in his first regular action following Tommy John surgery — hitting .158 with zero homers and no RBI in 19 at-bats.

While it’s unfair to expect Torres to pick up where he left off last June before the home plate collision that prematurely ended his season, it’s never too early to plot when and if McKinney makes his mark at the big league level.

I’ve seen Tweets centered around the idea of McKinney becoming a mid-season trade chip should he continue his success this year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. And while I agree that McKinney, who was originally drafted by the A’s, only to be dealt to the Cubs in the Jeff Samardzija deal, needs time to learn the nuances of first base, I don’t understand why the fanbase is so quick to write him off as expendable.

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Oh, that’s right, because we’re still waiting on Greg Bird to become the American League’s best hitter. Yes, Bird has all the offensive tools to be the middle of the order left-handed stick the Yankees need to break up their conglomerate of right-handed bats. But what if Bird can’t carry over his 2017 Postseason success?

Staying healthy is one thing, but let’s just consider for a moment that Bird doesn’t get the bat going this spring — as he currently sits at a .133 batting average with goose eggs in the home run and RBI categories.

Fine, it’s Spring Training. You can only put so much stock into facing pitchers that probably won’t make the Opening Day roster.

Unlike last season when Bird went off the rails in terms of Grapefruit League productivity, maybe this time around he’s baiting us — waiting for the public to tether their expectations before unleashing the beast come Mar 29 in Toronto.

However, how long of a leash do the Yankees and first-year manager Aaron Boone give Greg Bird?

With Tyler Austin hitting as his job depends on it this spring (it does), the recently signed Adam Lind and his 200 career home runs and McKinney, looking ever-so-poised, I for one believe a real competition to man the first base bag could erupt by July should Bird struggle to find himself.

Currently ranked as the Yankees’ No. 19 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, there’s no reason to expect anything less than a top 10 showing from McKinney when the mid-season report comes out.

With Thairo Estrada recovering from an offseason bullet wound, and a number of lower level pitchers still at least two seasons away from the majors (Freicer Perez, Jonathan Loaisiga and Clarke Schmidt), expect McKinney to leap-frog the competition, back into the listing of the game’s top-100 overall prospects.

A center fielder by trade, McKinney can play all three outfield positions, in addition to his growing knowledge of first base. Above average speed and a plus-throwing arm only make McKinney’s game that much more attractive.

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Let McKinney build off a stellar 2017 season at Triple-A Scranton (306/.336/.541 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 55 games). With a left-handed swing tailor-made for Yankee Stadium, there’s no reason to rush this kid off via trade.