ERIE — Reaching professional baseball is Colin McKee’s hopeful destination.

He’s following a pretty good path to get there.

The Butler graduate and Mercyhurst University sophomore pitcher is off to an impressive start this spring — posting a 3-0 record with a 1.42 earned run average, 27 strikeouts and only nine walks through his first three starts.

“He’s throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters,” Lakers pitching coach Matthew Jimenez said. “That’s the key to pitching.

“He’s making the hitters hit his pitch.”

And few are doing it.

Through McKee’s first 19 innings pitched, hitters have compiled a mere .127 batting average against him.

McKee was Mercyhurst’s closer as a freshman last season and led the team with 14 appearances. He compiled five saves in the process.

“Last year did a lot for me,” McKee said. “Coming in for just that last inning, I learned to just attack hitters instead of trying to finesse them by hitting the corners. I learned to trust my stuff.”

At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, McKee has a big frame and a lively fastball.

He hit 93 miles per hour in the fall and has been between 89 and 91 miles per hour so far this year.

“The weather hasn’t been ideal,” he said, smiling. “It’s been brutal. My one start was in 30-degree weather, another was in the rain.

“Around here, that’s the stuff we have to put up with. When the weather warms up, my speed will pick up.”

Mercyhurst coach Joe Spano said putting McKee in the closer’s role last year was the natural move to make.

“Colin didn’t pitch all that much in high school and we figured limiting his innings in his first full year with us made sense,” Spano said. “At the same time, he had good stuff and we wanted to take advantage of it.

“Danny Altavilla was our closer when he first joined us and that was for the same reason. Things worked out OK for him.”

Altavilla developed into a dominant starting pitcher for the Lakers.

He was a senior at Mercyhurst last spring and was drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners.

Jimenez indicated the long-term plan was always for McKee to become a starting pitcher for the Lakers.

“His stuff is just too good,” he said. “He should be an anchor in our rotation for a while.”

McKee said he talked to Altavilla on a daily basis last season.

“He had an incredible work ethic,” McKee said. “He worked on the little things all the time. I’ve tried to pattern myself after him that way. Hard work really does pay off.

“As good as (Altavilla) was, he showed you can always get better.”

Spano recognizes the fact that McKee earned from his former ace hurler.

“It’s pretty evident he paid attention what Danny’s doe to be successful,” the coach said. “Colin’s done a terrific job so far this year. Every inning he’s given us has been top quality.”

In McKee’s first start this year — against Lock Haven at Myrtle Beach — he came within one out of a no-hitter before settling for a one-hit victory.

McKee also fanned nine in a complete-game three-hitter against Slippery Rock and whiffed nine while scattering four hits over five innings against Clarion.

A biology and sports medicine major, McKee assigned to pitch summer ball in the New England area once the college season ends.

“I’d love the opportunity to play pro ball. That’s the ultimate goal,” McKee said. “Just keep on winning, keep on developing and getting better.

“That’s the immediate goal.”