A's Select OF Billy McKinney in First Round of First-Year Player Draft

The Oakland A's selected outfielder Billy McKinney from Plano West High School in Plano, Texas with the 24th selection in the first round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, the club announced today.

McKinney batted .372 with four home runs and 17 RBI as a senior for Plano West. He added 36 walks and was hit by a pitch eight times for a .585 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitter struck out just six times and stole seven bases in eight attempts. This marks the second consecutive season the A's selected a high school player in the first round as Oakland drafted shortstop Addison Russell from Pace HS last year. Prior to that, the A's had not drafted a high school player in the first round since Jeremy Bonderman in 2001. McKinney is the fourth position player the A's have chosen in the first round in the last five years along with Russell (2012), Michael Choice (2010) and Grant Green (2009). The A's drafted right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray in the first round in 2011.

The Athletics have two more picks tonight, their second round pick (63rd selection overall) and a competitive balance pick following the second round (71st selection). The draft resumes tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with rounds three through 10 and concludes Saturday at 10:00 am with rounds 11 through 40.