McKee starts fresh in NY-Penn circuit
TROY, N.Y. — Colin McKee is anxious for a fresh start.
The Butler graduate and Houston Astros minor league pitcher is getting one this week — as is his team.
McKee, who turns 23 this week, graduated from Mercyhurst University last year before being selected in the 18th round by the Astros in the 2016 MLB draft. He has been assigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League.
The ValleyCats opened their season Monday in Connecticut against the Detroit Tigers' league affiliate.
The right-hander spent the first two months of this season at extended spring training in West Palm Beach. Fla. He threw only 8.1 innings for the Greenville Astros of the Appalachian League last summer.
“I developed an issue with my back that created muscle spasms,” McKee said. “Then I tried to come back too soon and got shut down again.
“It's been a long process getting back. I really didn't feel right again until the very end of last (minor league) season.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McKee felt just fine while pitching for Mercyhurst a year ago. He was named The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and compiled an 11-2 record, 1.82 earned run average, 141 strikeouts in just 94 innings. Opponents hit .167 against him.
At Greenville, his ERA was 11.88. He struck out six, walked seven, hit two batters and allowed a pair of home runs as opponents hit .375 against him.
“It was rough,” McKee admitted. “I've been used to carrying a big workload And all of a sudden I wasn't pitching anymore. The rehab seemed to take forever.”
Now McKee is back on course. He said his fastball has hit 94 miles per hour and he's added a power slider/cutter to his repertoire. He throws a changeup and curve as well.
“My time in Florida went very, very well,” McKee said. “I'm ready to see how that cutter fares in games.
“The Astros have a beautiful new complex in West Palm Beach. I benefited from being there.”
The ValleyCats do not use a set starting pitching rotation. The short-season Class A team uses a couple of pitchers each game and work in innings for its hurlers that way.
“I could go anywhere from three to five innings in a given outing,” McKee said. “The key is to just pitch well while you're in there. Stay in the moment.
“You just have to trust the process. Embrace it. That's what I'm doing. My ultimate goal is to get to the major leagues. That's not going to happen tomorrow.”
The ValleyCats play in a division with the Connecticut Tigers, Lowell Spinners and Vermont Lake Monsters. The 14-team New York-Penn League is also home to the Pirates' West Virginia Black Bears affiliate and two Pennsylvania teams — the State College Spikes and Williamsport Crosscutters.
Mick Fennell, a Butler graduate and former teammate of McKee's, is an outfielder with State College, a St. Louis Cardinals' affiliate.
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