Prospect Profile – Scott McKeon Can Handle a Bat Very Well

Congrats to @Scotty_Mckeon2 on signing with the @Cubs! #ChantsUp pic.twitter.com/baYyKxcAEA

— Coastal Baseball (@CoastalBaseball) June 14, 2020

When news broke that the Cubs signed shortstop Scott McKeon, I was pretty excited. Above all else, McKeon showed over the course of his college career that he could do one thing and do it very well and that was hit.

Basic Information

Height – 6’ 

Weight – 185

Bats – Right

Throws – Right

Signed as a free agent out of Coastal Carolina

Age – 22

After a rough senior season, where he only hit .224, McKeon graduated from Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2016. Rather than go to a four-year school, McKeon went to Brunswick Community College in Bolivia, North Carolina. As freshman, McKeon only played in 22 games, but he hit the crap out of a baseball that year. 

In 53 ABs, he hit .434 with a .556 OBP and drove in 13. He had a walk percentage of 19.44 and only struck out 5 times. As a sophomore at Brunswick, McKeon took it to another level. In 49 games, he drove in 40 with 3 HRs while hitting .399 with a .471 OBP. He was named a third team NJCAA Division II All-American. Those numbers would good enough to get McKeon a spot at Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina.

As a junior, McKeon picked up where he left off in 2018. The shortstop played in 62 games and hit .341 with a .401 OBP. He hit 3 HRs and drove in 38. He did strike out 19% of the time, but he also lead the team in extra base hits despite only hitting 3 HRs. McKeon was drafted in 21st round in 2019 by the Tigers but chose to return to Coastal Carolina. 

Scott McKeon got his first career hit against Maryland this weekend pic.twitter.com/2oXs0iM0zy

— Coastal Baseball (@CoastalBaseball) February 18, 2019

As a senior, McKeon got off to a great start. In 16 games, he cranked out 4 HRs while hitting .359 with a .340 OBP. His OPS was outstanding at 1.003. His walk rate increased to over 9 while his K rate dropped from 19% down to 16%.

Chants go BACK-TO-BACK BOMBS to get the scoring started this afternoon. Makenzie Pate gets his first career HR in a @CoastalBaseball uni, while Scott McKeon smacks his first of the szn. CCU up 13-0 over Maryland headed to the bottom of the 5th. My work here is done ✌️ pic.twitter.com/OPPUKeGPPT

— Kacy Hintz (@KacyHintz) February 28, 2020

Then the pandemic hit ending his season.

Had there been a 10, or even 20, round draft, McKeon stood a very good chance of being selected. Instead, McKeon signed a free agent contract with the Cubs on June 14. Baseball America had him at #438 in their top 500. They said of his future: “Scouts see McKeon as a solid defender at shortstop and think he can stick there but have questions about whether his bat and offensive approach will translate to the pro game.” 

I wish I could see McKeon suit up and go at it in Eugene, as that is where he likely would have been assigned. In watching his swing, I really like how quick he gets his hands through the zone.

As for where he is going to play, the Cubs have plenty of shortstops right now. I would not be surprised to see him move off of shortstop and slide over to both second base and third base. Considering how well he controlled the zone in college, I would not be surprised to see the Cubs try and get more power out of his bat.

Out of all the free agents signed so far, I really like his bat profile the best. He can hit for average while not striking out much, and he might have the potential for power.