Ex-Yankee Billy McKinney released by Mets ahead of Subway Series finale

Sunday May 18, 2025

As the New York Yankees and New York Mets battle it out in the Subway Series rubber game tonight, one former Yankees prospect received notable news on Sunday afternoon.

Former Yankees prospect released

billy-mckinney-new-york-yankees — X-@JoeDraft412

Veteran outfielder Billy McKinney was released by the Mets from their Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, as reported by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. The move came just hours ahead of the pivotal third game of the highly anticipated Yankees-Mets series.

Originally a first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2013, McKinney became part of Yankees history through a series of high-profile trades. He was acquired by New York in 2016 as part of the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Gleyber Torres and Adam Warren.

McKinney eventually made his Major League debut with the Yankees in 2018, though his initial tenure was brief. The Yankees traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a package for starting pitcher J.A. Happ later that same season. McKinney returned briefly to the Bronx in 2023, batting .227 with six home runs and 14 RBIs in 48 appearances.

Throughout his MLB career, McKinney has struggled to fulfill the high expectations set for him as a first-round selection. His cumulative batting average stands at .209, paired with an OPS of .669.

As the Yankees aim for bragging rights tonight against their crosstown rivals, McKinney’s release serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of baseball careers—even for highly touted prospects.