a durable lefty who turned into a trusted multi-inning weapon for SLU
In the 2026 season, McKinney became a steady arm for Saint Louis, appearing in 16 games with four starts and logging 38.1 innings while allowing a .221 opponent average and striking out 24 batters; he also earned three wins and helped close out games in tougher spots. The appeal is the profile: a 6-foot-3 left-hander with bullpen-to-start flexibility, strike-throwing history, and enough stamina to handle real workload. He looks like the kind of competitor coaches trust when they want calm, innings, and a different look from the left side.
