SALT LAKE BEES
David MacKinnon Named PCL Offensive Player Of The Week For Bees
SALT LAKE CITY – David MacKinnon became the first Salt Lake Bee to be named PCL Offensive Player of the Week since Brennan Boesch won the award in 2014.
The Pacific Coast League announced the honor Monday, May 23.
David MacKinnon led the league with 4 home runs, 24 total bases, and 8 RBI last week on his way to being named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/bRfreo0A01
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 23, 2022
MacKinnon has crushed PCL pitching in recent weeks, making his case to be included in any conversation about the Los Angeles Angels top prospects.
Over the past week, MacKinnon has a .375 batting average and balls have been exploding off of his bat. Three home runs, including a 466-foot blast to straightaway center against the Albuquerque Isotopes on May 21.
He has added a team-leading six RBI and seven runs scored. His six hits in 16 at-bats pace the Bees.
Not a cheap one.
The @Angels' David MacKinnon crushes a three-run homer — 466 feet! — off the batter's eye for the @SaltLakeBees. pic.twitter.com/zHAlPEZ113
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 22, 2022
Expanding those numbers to the past 15 days shows more excellence for MacKinnon.
In 12 games, MacKinnon has a PCL high five home runs. He leads Salt Lake in hits (14),batting average (.318), runs scored (11), home runs and RBI (13). All while showing patience at the plate by drawing eight walks against 12 strikeouts.
📢 MacKinnon has had 4 home runs in his last 5 games pic.twitter.com/6Nmwu0z8nh
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 22, 2022
Selected by the Angels with the 955th pick in the 2017 draft out of Hartford University, MacKinnon is in his first season with the Bees.
He began his professional career with the Orem Owlz in 2017, batting .398 with two home runs and 27 RBI in 33 games played.
In 2018 he spent time with Angels affiliates Single-A Burlington and Single-A+ Inland Empire. Making his current barrage of home runs even more unlikely, MacKinnon hit just six long balls with the 66ers.
David MacKinnon will hit his way to the majors just like Jared Walsh did. Hitting .303 with a 1.005 OPS and his 9th HR. Would only get called up if Walsh got hurt or to platoon at 1B. Full bench currently and Rojas on the 40 but it would be great to see him in the lineup @Angels https://t.co/Xwjz6AfsjP
— Eric (@ericserics) May 23, 2022
2019 was a struggle for MacKinnon as he again was assigned to Inland Empire but was limited to just 77 plate appearances in 18 games due to injury.
MacKinnon was not assigned to the Angels alternate site in 2020, giving him plenty of time to revamp his game.
In 2021, the Angels assigned MacKinnon to Double-A Rocket City. Healthy and refreshed after a year away, MacKinnon enjoyed his best season in professional baseball. Hitting 13 home runs and 30 doubles in 365 at-bats. Showing there may be some untapped potential in his bat.
Through 37 games played with Salt Lake, the Bees first baseman has a team high 10 home runs and trails Dillon Thomas (30) for the RBI lead with 28 runs knocked in. He is one of three Bees regulars, joining Michael Stefanic and Luis Rengifo, with a batting average above .300.
Lest anybody think he is a defensive liability, MacKinnon has not made an error in 2022. According to Baseball-Reference, he has handled 279 chances at first without issue while starting 36 of the Bees first 44 games at first.
The Bees are 8-6 in their past fourteen games, overtaking the Las Vegas Aviators for the PCL West lead. Salt Lake’s +74 run differential is second best in the PCL and third in all of Triple-A baseball, trailing Nashville of the International League (+87) and Oklahoma City (+78) in the PCL.
The Bees are home for Memorial Day!
Join us at Smith's Ballpark Monday, May 30th for a special Monday Night game and Post Game Fireworks as we honor and celebrate those who served in the armed forces.
Get your tickets now at https://t.co/kQPx4ncf6z pic.twitter.com/a2FY7KcE2l— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 26, 2022
Salt Lake has four games remaining against the Sacramento River Cats this week before returning home to begin a series against the El Paso Chihuahuas at Smith’s Ballpark. The Bees will feature the first postgame fireworks show of the season on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. Bees tickets can be purchased at slbees.com. Listen to all Salt Lake Bees games on The Zone Sports Network.
