McKee pitching at Class AA level
CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx. — Colin McKee has moved one step closer — a big step.
The Butler graduate and professional baseball pitcher is beginning this season with the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks, the Houston Astros' affiliate in the Texas League.
Drafted in the 18th round by Houston in 2016. McKee is entering his third full season in the Astros' farm system. He's struck out 127 batters in 94.1 innings in the minors, including 68 in 45 innings last season.
Moving up to Class AA puts McKee, 24, within striking distance — pardon the pun — of making his major league debut.
“Just knowing I'm one or two injuries away from receiving that call is awesome,” he said. “But at the same time, I have to focus on getting people out.
“If that doesn't happen, it (call to the big leagues) isn't going to happen. I'm just concentrating, batter to batter.”
And he keeps adding new things for batters to think about.
As successful as he was at Mercyhurst College — being named PSAC West Pitcher of the Year — McKee only has one pitch left from his college days.
“That's my fastball,” he said. “I'm throwing it at around 94 or 95 (miles per hour) now. Once we start playing games and the adrenalin kicks in, I'll probably hit 96 or 97.”
In the meantime, McKee has been transforming himself from a solid Division II pitcher into a major league prospect.
He still stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 225 pounds, “but my weight's been redistributed,” McKee said. “I have a lot more muscle and a lot less fat.
“I developed a changeup over the last year or so that I use regularly now. My old slider I threw in college is more like a sharp cutter now. And I've developed a sweeping slider, not as hard, but with a lot of movement, just to show hitters another pitch.”
McKee continues to work out of the bullpen. Corpus Christi opens its season Thursday against Amarillo.
“All of the bullpen guys have been told to expect anything,” he said. “I may be called on to pitch three innings, pitch to one batter, close out a game, maybe pick up longer innings if the starting pitcher that night struggles early.
“The more versatile you can be, the better off you are. You have to be ready to go at any time.”
While he played his college ball in Erie, McKee has spent his first few professional years down south. He started out in Greenville, Tenn., before pitching in North Carolina last year.
Now that he's pitching in Texas, he insists the heat won't bother him.
“I've gotten used to it,” he said. “Some of the veteran guys down here warned us to get ready for the heat, that the temperature will hit triple digits at times.
“I saw some 100 degree temperatures in Tennessee and we played on turf in North Carolina, where the on-field temperature would get that warm. The heat doesn't really bother me.”
McKee didn't find out he was headed to Class AA until the Astro minor leaguers broke camp a few days ago.
“That's when I was told. I was thrilled,” he said. “Since I pitched in high A-ball last year, I was hoping to move up right away.”
