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Alex McKenna (baseball)

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Alex McKenna
McKenna in 2022 with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Outfielder
Born: (1997-09-06) September 6, 1997 (age 27)
Lancaster, California
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Alexander McKenna (born September 6, 1997) is an American former professional baseball outfielder.

Amateur career

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McKenna attended Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, California, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. In 2015, as a senior, he batted .402.[1] He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 38th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign, instead choosing to attend California Polytechnic State University where he played college baseball for the Cal Poly Mustangs.[2]

As a freshman at Cal Poly in 2016, McKenna batted .261 with six home runs in 45 games.[3] After the season, he played for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League.[4] In 2017, as a sophomore, he started all 56 of Cal Poly's games and compiled a .360 batting average with five home runs, 31 RBIs, 13 steals, 45 runs scored, 11 doubles, and two triples.[5] He was named to the All-Big West First Team after the season.[6] That summer he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox where he batted .298 with nine doubles, 16 RBIs, and seven stolen bases in 124 at-bats, and was named a league all-star.[7][8] In 2018, as a junior, McKenna batted .339 with five home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .930 OPS in 57 games.[9] He was named the 2018 Big West Field Player of the Year along with being named to the All-Big West First Team for the second straight year.[10][11]

Professional career

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McKenna was selected by the Houston Astros in the fourth round, with the 132nd overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft and signed for $432,500.[12][13] He made his professional debut that year for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Low–A New York–Penn League and was named an All-Star.[14][15] He was promoted to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single–A Midwest League in August. Over 44 games between Tri-City and Quad Cities, McKenna hit .311/.394/.512 with seven home runs and 28 RBI.[16] In 2019, McKenna returned to Quad Cities, but played in only 65 games due to injury; over those games, he batted .252/.327/.303 with one home run and 20 RBI.[17]

McKenna did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Asheville Tourists of the High-A East.[19] He was promoted to the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Central in late June.[20] He missed nearly a month due to injury.[21] Over 79 games between the two teams, he slashed .261/.356/.478 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI. He was assigned to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to begin the 2022 season, but was demoted to Corpus Christi in mid-June.[22] He played a total of 106 games between both teams, slashing .232/.337/.351 with six home runs, 51 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.[23]

McKenna started the 2023 season for Double–A Corpus Christi. Over 16 games, he slashed .196/.338/.339. He was assigned to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on April 29, 2023. In 46 total games split between the two affiliates, he hit .212/.324/.338 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI. On July 27, McKenna was released by the Astros organization.[24]

On April 5, 2024, McKenna announced his retirement from professional baseball.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Alex McKenna is rising up MLB draft boards. But there's unfinished business at Cal Poly". The Tribune. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "Minnesota Twins 2015 MLB Draft capsules". FOX Sports. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  3. ^ "Cal Poly Player Profile: Alex McKenna". SLO City News. 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "Alex McKenna - Northwoods League - player | Pointstreak Sports Technologies". D15k3om16n459i.cloudfront.net. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  5. ^ "Cal Poly's Alex McKenna only player from Big West honored on Baseball America's Preseason All-America Third Team". ksby.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "2 Poly baseball players named as Top 100 college prospects for MLB Draft – Cal Poly Notes". The Tribune. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  7. ^ "Alex McKenna". pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "2018 CBD TOP 100 COUNTDOWN: 45. ALEX MCKENNA (CAL POLY)". College Baseball Daily. 18 December 2017. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  9. ^ "He was born with three thumbs. Now this Cal Poly star is a top prospect in the MLB Draft". The Tribune. Archived from the original on June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "McKenna named Field Player of the Year in the Big West". Fansmanship. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  11. ^ Alex McKenna Nick Meyer earn top big west honors ksby.com [dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Cal Poly outfielder Alex McKenna drafted by 2017 World Series champions". The Tribune. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "Astros sign Draft picks Schroeder, McKenna". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  14. ^ "NYPL notes: McKenna works out the kinks". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-13. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  15. ^ "ValleyCats put three on All-Star team". Times Union. August 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "Alex McKenna Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  17. ^ "Express Alumni Update: Rooting Interests - Eau Claire Express : Eau Claire Express". EAU Claire Express. Northwoodsleague.com. 2019-10-17. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  18. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  19. ^ "Press release: Astros set preliminary Minor League rosters". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  20. ^ Chandler Rome (2021-06-29). "Astros promote Alex McKenna, Joe Perez to Double-A". Houstonchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  21. ^ "Mustangs in the Pros: Haniger Named AL Player of the Week". Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  22. ^ "Space Cowboys Preliminary Roster Announced".
  23. ^ "Alex McKenna Stats, Fantasy & News".
  24. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  25. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Zp3HjvTcK/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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