Billy McKinney Bio
William Landis McKinney, known professionally as Billy McKinney, is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has spent parts of nine Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons with the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers. A first-round draft pick in 2013, McKinney reached the majors in 2018 and has built a career as a depth outfielder and corner bat. He is best known for his time in the Blue Jays system, his 2021 National League Division Series appearance with the Dodgers, and a series of late-career stops across the American League.
Early Life and Background
McKinney was born on August 23, 1994, in the United States. He grew up in Plano, Texas, where he attended Plano West Senior High School. At Plano West, McKinney emerged as a promising outfielder and helped lead the school’s baseball team to the Class 5A state semifinals in Texas. His high school performance drew the attention of professional scouts, and he was widely regarded as one of the top prep outfielders in his draft class.
Coming out of high school, McKinney was committed to play college baseball at Texas Christian University, but he never enrolled. Instead, he was selected in the 2013 MLB Draft, choosing professional baseball over a college career. The transition to professional ball moved him out of his Texas roots and set him on a path that would eventually take him through multiple organizations over the next decade.
Path to Baseball
McKinney’s professional journey began in 2013 when the Oakland Athletics selected him in the first round of the MLB Draft, 24th overall. He signed with the Athletics and received a $1.8 million signing bonus, a significant commitment from Oakland. After spending his first pro season across the rookie-level Arizona League and Low-A Vermont, McKinney opened 2014 with the High-A Stockton Ports of the California League, where he posted a .241/.330/.400 line with 10 home runs in 75 games.
His development took a major turn on July 4, 2014, when the Athletics traded him, along with Addison Russell and Dan Straily, to the Chicago Cubs for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. The trade sent McKinney to one of baseball’s most respected player-development systems, which helped him refine his approach as a hitter and a corner outfielder.
Billy McKinney Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
McKinney opened his professional career in the Oakland system before being traded to the Cubs midseason in 2014. After the deal, he was assigned to the High-A Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League, where he batted .301 across 51 games. The strong performance at Daytona cemented his status as a rising prospect in the Cubs’ organization.
In 2015, McKinney began the year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League and hit .340 in 29 games, earning a quick promotion to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. A hairline fracture in his right knee in August cut his season short, but he returned to Tennessee healthy in 2016 and continued climbing the ladder toward the major leagues.
New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays (2016-2020)
On July 25, 2016, the Cubs traded McKinney, Adam Warren, Gleyber Torres, and Rashad Crawford to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman. McKinney joined the Double-A Trenton Thunder and finished 2016 with a .246 batting average, four home runs, and 44 RBIs. He opened 2017 at Trenton before a midseason promotion to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and he finished the year with a combined .277 average, 16 home runs, and 64 RBIs. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the season.
McKinney made his major league debut with the Yankees on March 30, 2018, after an injury to Aaron Hicks, and he recorded a hit in his first at bat. A sprained AC joint in his left shoulder landed him on the disabled list the next day, but he was activated in May. On July 26, 2018, the Yankees traded McKinney and Brandon Drury to the Blue Jays for J. A. Happ. He was promoted to the majors on August 17 and hit his first career home run on August 21 off Baltimore’s Ryan Meisinger, finishing 2018 with six home runs and 13 RBI in 36 games. He added 12 home runs and 28 RBI across 84 games in 2019 before being designated for assignment by Toronto in September 2020.
Milwaukee, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-2021)
The Milwaukee Brewers claimed McKinney off waivers on September 14, 2020. He appeared in 40 games for Milwaukee, hitting .207 with three home runs and six RBI, before being designated for assignment in May 2021. The New York Mets then acquired him for Pedro Quintana on May 25, 2021. In 39 games with the Mets, McKinney slashed .220/.304/.473 with five home runs and 14 RBI before being designated for assignment on July 16.
On July 21, 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired McKinney for minor league outfielder Carlos Rincon. He played 37 games for Los Angeles, hitting .146 with one home run and seven RBI, but his biggest moment came in the postseason. McKinney appeared in four games of the 2021 National League Division Series, primarily as a defensive replacement, making his only plate appearance a strikeout. The Dodgers designated him for assignment in November 2021, and a brief trade to Texas fell through when the Rangers non-tendered him days later.
Oakland Athletics Return and Second Yankees Stint (2022-2023)
McKinney signed a minor league deal with Oakland on March 16, 2022, and made the Athletics’ opening day roster. He struggled in the majors, going 5-for-52 with one home run in 23 games before being designated for assignment in early May. He cleared waivers and produced a strong Triple-A season with the Las Vegas Aviators, hitting .295/.396/.530 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI across 69 games before electing free agency.
On December 19, 2022, McKinney returned to the New York Yankees on a minor league deal. He opened 2023 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and hit .274/.388/.511 with nine home runs in 40 games. He was promoted in June after Aaron Judge went on the injured list and played 48 games for the Yankees, batting .227/.320/.406 with six home runs and 14 RBI. McKinney was removed from the 40-man roster after the season and elected free agency, briefly re-signing with the Yankees in December 2023.
Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers (2024-2025)
On December 14, 2023, McKinney was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. He spent most of 2024 with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, hitting .295/.356/.450 with five home runs and 18 RBI, and was promoted to the majors on August 19. In 10 games for Pittsburgh, he went 5-for-25 with two RBI before being designated for assignment in early September. He elected free agency on October 1, 2024.
After a brief minor league deal with the New York Mets in early 2025, McKinney signed with the Texas Rangers on May 27, 2025, and hit .295/.433/.487 with three home runs in Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers selected his contract on July 1, and he went 1-for-7 in two games before being designated for assignment. He cleared waivers, returned to Round Rock, and rejoined Texas’ active roster on September 24, going 3-for-13 in four games. He elected free agency again on November 5, 2025.
Billy McKinney Career Wins
Billy McKinney has compiled his professional resume primarily as an outfielder rather than a pitcher, so his career win totals are limited to his on-field impact at the plate and in the field. Across nine MLB organizations, he has produced double-digit home run totals in several seasons, including 12 home runs for Toronto in 2019, 12 home runs at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2022, and nine home runs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2023. His most prominent postseason moment came in the 2021 National League Division Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
MLB Highlights
McKinney made his major league debut with the New York Yankees on March 30, 2018, and recorded a hit in his first at bat. He hit his first major league home run on August 21, 2018, off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ryan Meisinger while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2019, he set his single-season MLB high with 12 home runs and 28 RBI across 84 games for Toronto. He has also appeared in the postseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021.
Billy McKinney Family
Personal Life
Public information about Billy McKinney’s personal and family life is limited. He grew up in Plano, Texas, and was raised there before beginning his professional baseball career. No verified details are available regarding his parents, spouse, or children.
2025 Season Performance
McKinney’s 2025 season was split between two organizations and a return trip to the majors. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets in March and played 33 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, hitting .184/.285/.307 with three home runs and nine RBI before being released on May 18. Five days later, he signed with the Texas Rangers organization and produced one of his strongest Triple-A stretches, batting .295/.433/.487 with three home runs, 18 RBI, and three stolen bases in 24 games for the Round Rock Express.
The Rangers selected McKinney’s contract on July 1, and he went 1-for-7 with a walk in two games before being designated for assignment on July 4. He cleared waivers and returned to Round Rock before rejoining the Rangers’ active roster on September 24, going 3-for-13 with one RBI in four games. McKinney was removed from the 40-man roster after the season and elected free agency, leaving him open to sign with any club entering the 2025-2026 offseason.