McKee

Colin McKee found out like just about everyone else.

He read the statement released Tuesday evening by Minor League Baseball that its 2020 seasons were officially canceled.

It wasn't a complete shock to McKee, a Butler High School graduate and pitcher in the Houston Astros' organization, that the season was going to be shelved.

The writing had been on the wall since the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping across the United States in the middle of Spring Training.

So, when he read the press release, that didn't surprise him.

Not hearing it from the Astros did, however.

“I actually haven't heard official news from the club still,” said McKee, a pitcher in the Houston Astros' organization. “The news broke from MiLB putting out the statement so that's the only official news I've heard. It's kind of odd, obviously.”

McKee, who was a standout on the mound at Mercyhurst University, had climbed through the Astros' farm system since being drafted in the 18th round by the club in 2016.

Last year, McKee was virtually unhittable at Class AA Corpus Christi, posting a 1.71 ERA and seven saves in 58 innings pitched.

He gave up just 25 hits, struck out 78 and batters hit just .131 off of him.

He made the double-A All-Star Game.

McKee's play earned him a promotion to Class AAA Round Rock at the end of the season. He pitched in the Triple-A playoffs for that club.

McKee was hopeful that he would be assigned to triple-A again this season.

But, as it turned out, there was no season.

“It's definitely disappointing for sure,” McKee said. “I had a good year last year. I just turned 26 a few days ago. Hopefully, it's my time to get a chance at some point. It's really not great timing for my career at this point, but it's jus another hurdle you have to get over. It's never easy to make the big leagues, that's for sure.”

McKee said he is going to help coach a traveling 14-and-under baseball team where he currently lives in Wilmington, N.C. He is also going to continue working out and throwing on his own in the hopes there will be a fall or winter league where he can play.

The Astros are paying their minor leaguers $400 a week through the end of August. Some organizations stopped paying its minor league players at the end of June while others went as far as releasing their entire rosters.

McKee has always been able to self-motivate — a trait be believes will help him now before he reports — hopefully — for Spring Training next year.

“I'm going to try to maximize the time I do have,” McKee said. “Who's most efficient and who's able to spend the time best are going to be the people who will be ready to make a leap next year. I think I'll make some big strides and be able to contribute with any team they assign me to.”

McKee said he knew in March when the NBA canceled the Utah Jazz-Oklahoma City Thunder game moments before tip after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 that Spring Training was in jeopardy.

“I follow the NBA really closely, so when they shut that game down before tip, I knew corona was a thing,” McKee said. “They had us going to Spring Training the next morning and I was joking around with guys, 'Oh, this is our last day until who knows when.' I was half-joking, but it ended up being true.

“I didn't think it would get to this point.”