Aug. 12, 1997
McKinley Signs with Giants
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- You can officially label him a former Sun Devil now. Dan McKinley, ASU's offensive player of the year in 1997, signed with the San Francisco Giants for a reported bonus package of a little more than $400,000.
McKinley captured the 1997 Pac-10 batting crown with a .423 average last year and ranked among conference leaders in home runs (15), RBI (70) and stolen bases (32). He will receive invitations to the Arizona Instructional League and the Arizona Fall League this off-season.
"We believe Dan has all the tools to be a solid future Major Leaguer," said Dick Tidrow, Director of Player Personnel for the Giants. "I'm sure Dan is as relieved as we are to finally complete contract negotiations. While he won't enter our farm system until next year, our goal is to accelerate his progress as much as possible this off-season through the instructional league and other opportunities."
McKinley joins teammates Ryan Bradley (Yankees), Jason Verdugo (Giants) and Jaymie Bane (Angels) in signing professional contracts after being drafted in 1997. The four draft picks brings ASU's all-time total to 262, by far the most for any collegiate program.
McKinley was the 49th player selected overall in the draft and was a "sandwich selection" between the first and second rounds. Bradley was a supplemental pick and the 40th pick while Verdugo was drafted in the 12th round and Bane in the 20th round.
Verdugo was a senior on last year's ASU squad that came within one out of the College World Series. Bane, Bradley and McKinley were all juniors.
McKinley Career Stats Year G Avg. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB/A BB K 1995 47 .325 126 29 41 10 2 1 7 9/12 11 16 1996 56 .386 254 73 98 17 3 9 57 12/14 19 26 1997 61 .423 267 88 113 21 5 15 70 32/38 28 31 Totals 164 .389 647 190 252 48 10 25 134 53/64 58 73