Cougars' McKinley goes full nine for shutout
Kane County found out Wednesday that two of their top pitchers -- Jeff Bain and Brian Shaffer -- were being promoted to Class A Advanced Visalia, moves that could deliver a blow to the team's postseason aspirations.In need of a glimmer of hope, Jayson McKinley provided a beacon.The D-backs prospect
Kane County found out Wednesday that two of their top pitchers -- Jeff Bain and Brian Shaffer -- were being promoted to Class A Advanced Visalia, moves that could deliver a blow to the team's postseason aspirations.
In need of a glimmer of hope, Jayson McKinley provided a beacon.
The D-backs prospect delivered his first career shutout as he sparkled over nine frames, scattering two hits without walking a batter while whiffing a career-best seven for the Class A Cougars in a 6-0 blanking of visiting Beloit on Wednesday afternoon.
Gameday box score
"We just lost two great starters, so for him to throw this game today, and to show us that we're still in this thing, was incredible," said Cougars pitching coach Rich Sauveur. "It did a lot for our team. Everyone fed off what he was doing out there, and the offense really clicked, too. We were looking for something, and to see what he did was just outstanding."
Originally signed by the Rays as a free agent in 2016, McKinley was released last year and signed by Arizona on Feb. 2. After starting the season with Kane County, McKinley saw brief stints with Visalia, Class A Short Season Hillsboro and Double-A Jackson before returning to the Cougers on June 24. Wednesday was his third start since coming back. He allowed four runs on six hits over three innings his first time out, and yielded three runs on five hits over five frames on July 18.
"It's actually been cool. My first year in the organization and I've been all over the place," McKinley said. "I think I picked something up from every level I played at, whether it was some tidbit from the coaches that's been helpful or being in Double-A and learning from those guys and seeing how they prepare."
Against the Snappers, McKinley (4-3) was efficient as he needed 104 pitches -- including 71 strikes -- to get through the game. He only threw six in the third and fifth frames, and his longest inning was the ninth, when he tossed 17. McKinley retired the side in order five times, including a stretch where he sat down 14 in a row.
"He showed that he's got some guts," Sauveur said. "The way he challenged hitters and changed speeds and kept hitters off-balance for nine complete innings. He just did a great job. His split was really good and he located his fastball well on both side, and the location on the breaking ball was just plus-plus. The mixing of pitches was just outstanding today."
No Beloit hitter made it to third base. A two-out bloop single to left by A's No. 5 prospectAustin Beck in the first and a one-out liner into center off a first-pitch fastball by Logan Farrar were the only knocks off McKinley.
"I've never been locked in before the way I was today. Today was special," McKinley said. "I just felt really good out there and things went my way. Complete games just don't come around that often, especially shutouts, so it's definitely a game I'm going to remember for the rest of my life."
And it almost didn't happen.
Having never lasted more than seven innings before and still on a pitch count, McKinley admitted that he emptied his tank in the seventh assuming that his day was done. But when he arrived back in the dugout and manager Blake Lalli told him he was going back out for the eighth, adrenaline kicked in.
"I definitely caught a second wind when I heard that," he said. "I just got really excited."
In the ninth, McKinley plunked Oakland's sixth-ranked prospect Lazaro Armenteros to lead off the frame. Sensing fatigue was setting in, Lalli began to warm up a reliever in the Cougars' bullpen.
"I was definitely tired there, but right after I hit the guy I could hear someone warming up in our 'pen and that locked me back in," McKinley said. "I just said to myself, 'No, I came this far and I'm going to finish it, so now I gotta kick it in gear.' I just got amped up and it helped me lock back in."
McKinley struck out Beck swinging on six pitches, induced a fly ball to right from Hunter Hargrove and ended the game with Farrar grounding out to second.
Arizona's No. 10 prospectGabriel Maciel got Kane County on the board with an RBI double to left in the third inning off left-hander Ivan Andueza (1-7). Jancarlos Cintron chipped in with a pair of hits -- including an RBI double -- and drove in two Cougars runs.
Rob Terranova is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobTnova24.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring