William Landis McKinney Bio
William Landis McKinney is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played for eight Major League Baseball franchises during his career, including the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers. McKinney was selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft and has accumulated 34 career home runs and 89 runs batted in through the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
McKinney attended Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas, where he established himself as a highly decorated baseball player. He led his high school team to the Texas Class 5A state semifinals, showcasing the talent that would eventually earn him recognition at the highest level of the sport. His exceptional performance in high school attracted attention from college programs across the country.
Following his stellar high school career, McKinney committed to play college baseball at Texas Christian University. His commitment to TCU demonstrated his dedication to developing his skills before turning professional. The path through college baseball was a common route for top prospects at the time, though McKinney would ultimately bypass this step when presented with an opportunity to begin his professional career immediately.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Oakland Athletics selected McKinney with the 24th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization shortly after being drafted, receiving a $1.8 million signing bonus that reflected his status as a first-round selection. McKinney began his professional career in minor league systems, splitting his debut season between the rookie-level Arizona League Athletics and the Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters.
His progression through the minor leagues accelerated quickly. In 2014, he began the season with the Stockton Ports of the High-A California League, where he posted a .241 batting average with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in across 75 appearances. The Athletics valued McKinney as a key component of their future plans, but he became involved in significant trade discussions that would shape his career trajectory.
William Landis McKinney Career
Chicago Cubs Organization (2014-2016)
On July 4, 2014, the Athletics traded McKinney to the Chicago Cubs as part of a major trade package. The Cubs acquired McKinney along with Addison Russell and Dan Straily in exchange for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. This trade represented a significant investment in McKinney’s potential, as the Cubs were building toward their eventual World Series championship. He was assigned to the Daytona Cubs of the High-A Florida State League, where he batted .301 in 51 games.
McKinney continued his development in the Cubs system during the 2015 season. He began with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the High-A Carolina League and posted a remarkable .340 batting average in 29 games before earning a promotion to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League in May. However, his season was interrupted in August when he suffered a hairline fracture in his right knee, which ended his campaign prematurely. He returned to Tennessee for the 2016 season, continuing his climb through the minor league ranks.
New York Yankees and MLB Debut (2016-2018)
A pivotal moment in McKinney’s career occurred on July 25, 2016, when the Cubs traded him to the New York Yankees. The Yankees acquired McKinney along with Adam Warren, Gleyber Torres, and Rashad Crawford in exchange for Aroldis Chapman. He joined the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League following the trade. McKinney ended the 2016 season with a combined .246 batting average, four home runs, and 44 runs batted in across both organizations.
He began the 2017 season with Trenton and earned a promotion to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple-A International League in late June. McKinney finished the 2017 season with a combined .277 batting average, 16 home runs, and 64 runs batted in between both clubs. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the season, signaling their confidence in his potential to contribute at the major league level.
An injury to Aaron Hicks created an opportunity for McKinney, and the Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on March 30, 2018. He made his MLB debut that same day and recorded his first hit in his first at-bat, an auspicious start to his major league career. Unfortunately, he sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder the following day and was placed on the disabled list. McKinney was activated from the disabled list and optioned to the minors on May 25, 2018.
Toronto Blue Jays (2018-2020)
The Yankees traded McKinney to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 26, 2018, as part of a package for pitcher J. A. Happ. He was assigned to the Buffalo Bisons of the International League before being promoted to the Blue Jays on August 17. McKinney achieved a significant milestone on August 21, 2018, when he hit his first major league home run off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ryan Meisinger. He appeared in 36 games for the Blue Jays in 2018, hitting .252 with six home runs and 13 runs batted in.
The 2019 season saw McKinney establish himself as a regular contributor in the Blue Jays lineup. He hit 12 home runs with 28 runs batted in across 84 games, demonstrating his ability to provide power from the outfield position. His performance helped the Blue Jays as they continued their rebuild and development of young talent. However, on September 11, 2020, McKinney was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays, marking the end of his tenure with the organization.
National League Stints (2021)
The Milwaukee Brewers claimed McKinney off waivers from the Blue Jays on September 14, 2020. He played 40 games for the Brewers in 2021, hitting .207 with three home runs and six runs batted in before being designated for assignment on May 22, 2021. His time with Milwaukee was brief but provided him with an opportunity to continue his major league career.
McKinney joined the New York Mets on May 25, 2021, acquired from the Brewers in exchange for Pedro Quintana. In 39 games with the Mets, he posted a .220 batting average with a .304 on-base percentage and .473 slugging percentage, adding five home runs and 14 runs batted in. He was designated for assignment by the Mets on July 16, 2021.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired McKinney from the Mets on July 21, 2021, in exchange for minor league outfielder Carlos Rincon. He played 37 games for the Dodgers, hitting .146 with one home run and seven runs batted in. McKinney appeared in four postseason games for the Dodgers, primarily as a defensive replacement, recording one plate appearance in the National League Division Series where he struck out. The Dodgers non-tendered McKinney on November 30, 2021, making him a free agent.
Return to Oakland and Second Yankees Stint (2022-2023)
McKinney signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics on March 16, 2022, that included an invitation to Spring Training. The Athletics selected his contract on April 7, adding him to their opening day roster. However, McKinney struggled significantly in 23 games, going 5-for-52 with a .096 batting average, one home run, and four runs batted in. He was designated for assignment on May 9 and sent outright to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In 69 games with Las Vegas, he rebounded dramatically, batting .295 with a .396 on-base percentage and .530 slugging percentage, adding 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in.
On December 19, 2022, McKinney signed a minor league deal to return to the New York Yankees organization. He began the 2023 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, hitting .274 with a .388 on-base percentage and .511 slugging percentage, along with nine home runs and 25 runs batted in across 40 games. The Yankees selected his contract on June 7, 2023, after Aaron Judge was placed on the injured list. In 48 games for the Yankees, McKinney batted .227 with six home runs and 14 runs batted in. He was removed from the 40-man roster following the season and sent outright to Triple-A, subsequently electing free agency.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2024)
McKinney was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 14, 2023, in exchange for cash considerations. He played 40 games for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, slashing .295/.356/.450 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in. The Pirates selected his contract to the major league roster on August 19, 2024. In 10 games for Pittsburgh, he went 5-for-25 with no home runs and two runs batted in. The Pirates designated McKinney for assignment on September 6, and he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Indianapolis on September 8. He elected free agency on October 1, 2024.
New York Mets Second Stint and Texas Rangers (2025)
McKinney signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on March 21, 2025. In 33 appearances for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, he batted .184 with a .285 on-base percentage and .307 slugging percentage, adding three home runs and nine runs batted in. He was released by the Mets organization on May 18, 2025.
The Texas Rangers signed McKinney to a minor league contract on May 27, 2025. He played 24 appearances for the Triple-A Round Rock Express, posting an impressive .295 batting average with a .433 on-base percentage and .487 slugging percentage, along with three home runs, 18 runs batted in, and three stolen bases. The Rangers selected his contract on July 1, adding him to their active roster. He made his Rangers debut that same day, going 1-for-7 with a walk in two games. The Rangers designated him for assignment on July 4, and he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Round Rock on July 6, subsequently electing free agency. He re-signed with Texas on a minor league contract on July 8. The Rangers selected his contract again on September 24, and he went 3-for-13 with one run batted in across four additional games. On November 5, McKinney was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Round Rock; he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
William Landis McKinney Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career spanning from 2018 through 2025, McKinney has appeared in 297 major league games across eight franchises. He has accumulated career totals of 34 home runs, 89 runs batted in, and a .209 batting average. His power numbers peaked during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he hit 18 combined home runs across the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Notable Achievements by Team
McKinney’s most productive offensive season came in 2019 with the Toronto Blue Jays, when he hit 12 home runs and drove in 28 runs in 84 games. His 2022 season with Triple-A Las Vegas was exceptional, as he posted a .295 batting average with 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in across 69 games, earning consideration for a return to the major leagues. His 2023 stint with the Yankees also yielded solid results, with six home runs and 14 runs batted in across 48 games while serving as a valuable depth piece during Aaron Judge’s injury absence.
Minor League Success
McKinney has consistently performed well in minor league competition throughout his career. His best minor league seasons include his 2017 campaign with the Trenton Thunder and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he combined to hit .277 with 16 home runs and 64 runs batted in. His ability to produce at the Triple-A level has kept him in professional baseball as a valuable organizational player who can contribute when called upon.
William Landis McKinney Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Limited verified information is available regarding William Landis McKinney’s family background or personal relationships. Public records confirm he is the son of William McKinney and Heidi McKinney, though detailed information about their involvement in his baseball career remains private. McKinney has maintained a professional approach to his career, focusing on his performance on the field rather than public discussions of his family life.
Personal Life
McKinney has resided in Texas during portions of his career, though specific current residence information is not publicly confirmed. His baseball career has required significant travel and relocations throughout the minor and major leagues, with the player adapting to various team environments across the country. He remains active in the baseball community as he continues his professional career as a free agent.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for McKinney as he navigated between Triple-A affiliates and major league opportunities. He began the year with the New York Mets organization, playing 33 games for the Syracuse Mets at the Triple-A level before his release in May. His performance during this period included a .184 batting average with three home runs and nine runs batted in, numbers that reflected the challenges of adjusting to new organizational systems.
Following his release from the Mets, McKinney caught on with the Texas Rangers organization in late May. He demonstrated strong ability at the Triple-A level with the Round Rock Express, posting a .295 batting average with a .433 on-base percentage and impressive power numbers across 24 games. His performance earned him a promotion to the Rangers active roster in July, though his major league appearances were limited to six games with the team.
Despite the limited major league action, McKinney showed enough promise during his time with Round Rock to warrant two separate selections to the Rangers roster during the 2025 season. His ability to produce at the Triple-A level consistently has kept him relevant as a potential call-up candidate for teams seeking outfield depth. As he entered the offseason as a free agent, McKinney remained committed to continuing his professional baseball career and contributing at the major league level when opportunities arise.