The Los Angeles Angels were fortunate to have some older prospects play well enough to get noticed for their production, and David MacKinnon had some moments this past season in Triple-A that earned him time in Major League Baseball.
Drafted in the 32nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, MacKinnon joined the Angels Minor League system at 22 years old. His development through the minors was slower than most but expected for a late-round pick out of a small school.
To start the 2022 season, MacKinnon tore it up in Triple-A with the Salt Lake Bees and in the month of May he earned Pacific Coast League honors. Batting .344/.436/.656 and led the league in hits (33), including a second in RBI (25) and total bases (63), he also racked up nine multi-hit games and four three-hit performances.
Through 56 games prior to his MLB call-up, MacKinnon logged a .327 batting average, 13 home runs, 41 RBI, and 34 walks over 239 plate appearances.
When the Angels called him up to the MLB for their June 18 matchup against the Seattle Mariners, he checked in for two plate appearances, going hitless. Unfortunately for MacKinnon, his 43 plate appearances accounted for a 39 wRC+, including 12 strikeouts and no extra-base hits.
He was optioned to Triple-A on July 22, then designated for assignment on August 2. The Athletics claimed him on Aug. 5, where he stayed on for the remainder of the season.
MacKinnon only appeared in six games for the A’s, and he went hitless with one walk in 14 plate appearances.
Over the course of the season, he hit a combined .318/.416/.585 between the Minor League level and Major Leagues.
David MacKinnon 2022 highlight
In a pinch-hit appearance on July 12 against the Houston Astros, MacKinnon hit a two-run RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 6-5 loss.
2023 outlook
MacKinnon signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball for 2023 following his non-tender by the A’s. After being released by the Angels, he batted .297/.370/.422 with the A’s Triple-A affiliate, but he will continue his dream of playing professional baseball.
He will look to follow in the footsteps of many previous players before him who played at the international level before returning to the Major Leagues.
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