John McMillon

John Mitchell McMillon

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 230 lb.
• School Texas Tech University
• High School Jasper (TX) High School
• Debut August 17, 2023

• Born January 27, 1998 in Lufkin, TX USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher John McMillon was drafted twice - first out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 21st round of the 2016 amateur draft, and later out of Texas Tech University by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round of the 2019 amateur draft. However, by the time he was ready to turn pro, the COVID-19 pandemic had shortened the 2020 amateur draft to just five rounds and he was one of the numerous mid-level college prospects left out in the cold. He thus signed with the Kansas City Royals as an undrafted free agent for a token bonus on June 23, 2020. He was a two-way player in college, but the Royals signed him to be strictly a pitcher. Texas Tech reached the College World Series twice during his time with the school.

He had to wait until the 2021 season to begin his pro career, pitching in a total of 13 games between the ACL Royals Blue, ACL Royals Gold and Columbia Fireflies, going 0-1, 7.41. Things did not go much better for Columbia in 2022, as he went 1-2, 6.10 in 26 appearances, all in relief, in the Carolina League. Control was a major issues as in 31 innings, he struck out 45 batters - but walked 38. He managed to harness his superior stuff in 2023, and as a result climbed through the Royals system like a rocket. He started off back in Columbia for the third straight year, but was 1-0, 3.38 with 4 saves over his first 9 outings to earn a promotion to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League, where he went 2-1, 2.70 in 13 games. Another promotion followed, to the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals where he continued to do well, going 3-2, 0.87 in 15 games, with another 5 saves. Skipping AAA, he was called up to Kansas City in mid-August.

McMillon made his major league debut with the Royals against the Seattle Mariners at home on August 17, 2023, as the team's sixth pitcher of the afternoon in a 6-4 loss. He pitched the 9th inning after the Mariners had taken a 5-4 lead with three runs in the 8th and gave up a solo homer to Matt Raleigh while striking out two batters.

Further Reading

• Zach Richards: "Red Raider pitcher John McMillon signs deal with Royals", The Daily Toreador, June 15, 2020. [1]
• Jackson Stone and Anne Rogers: "Royals prospect completes journey from undrafted to the bigs: Reliever McMillon surges through three tiers in the Minors for his Kansas City callup", mlb.com, August 16, 2023. [2]

Related Sites

• John McMillon on mlb.com