Yankees: Billy McKinney heating up at Triple-A Scranton

Stop me if you’ve heard this before; the Yankees have an outfielder tearing the cover off the ball down in Triple-A. Only this time instead of waxing poetic about Clint Frazier, it’s Billy McKinney’s turn.

Just to set the record straight, Yankees prospect Clint Frazier is indeed beating up Triple-A pitching — .341/.414/.636 with five doubles, three triples, five home runs and eight RBI in only 88 at-bats.

But there are only so many articles I can write about Frazier’s deservingness of a promotion to the majors to push or platoon with the offensively stagnant Aaron Hicks.

Instead, today, I’ll focus on another exciting young outfielder in the Yankees organization, 23-year-old Billy McKinney.

McKinney, the Yanks’ No. 18 prospect had a brief cup of coffee with the big league team (two games) before injuring the AC joint in his left shoulder when he crashed into the left-center field wall at Rodgers Centre on April 31.

Though X-rays were negative, McKinney wouldn’t begin a rehab assignment until May 10, and his official activation for the Triple-A Railriders on May 24. With the 25-man log-jam in the Bronx, McKinney now has the arduous task of inserting himself back into said roster-crunch.

In his first 22 at-bats off the disabled list, McKinney was understandably sluggish, getting just one hit in his first six contests.

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However, over the past two games, McKinney’s stick has come alive, as he is now 5-for-8, including home runs in back-to-back games.

On Wednesday night in the Railriders’ 3-1 victory over the Louisville Bats, McKinney, playing right field and batting sixth, went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run and two runs scored.

Falling a single shy of hitting for the cycle, McKinney’s bat exploded through the strike zone and acted as a stark reminder of what he’s capable of when fully healthy.

Though McKinney continues to see time in the outfield, his expanding ability to man first base (as he did in the recent Arizona Fall League) could very well come in handy as the major league season progresses.

Now that Greg Bird is back and likely to assume everyday first base duties, it’s only a matter of time before the Yankees decide whether or not to keep the struggling Tyler Austin on the 25-man roster.

Should Austin eventually be reassigned to Scranton, I do believe Frazier deserves the first crack at making his mark permanent in the Bronx. If not he, then perhaps Brandon Drury and his wealth of major league experience will get the nod.

Regardless, with only so many roster spots to go around and Neil Walker now a utility infielder, having a player like McKinney, who is capable of playing first base and all three outfield positions is a huge plus.

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McKinney simply needs time to keep his offensive groove going and reinforce the trust that the Yanks showed to begin the season when they promoted him during a brief plague of team injuries.

It’s now up to ‘Billy the Kid’ to stay ready when his name is called to come back to New York — or when/if he’s included in a trade for a starting pitcher.