ORONO - Late Tuesday night, mere hours after the 2021 MLB Draft concluded, redshirt-junior and Hampden Academy product
Alex McKenney announced he had signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He joins teammate
Nicholas Sinacola,
who was drafted in the seventh round on Monday, in the professional ranks. The two become the 117
th and 118
th players in Maine Baseball history to sign professional contracts.
Alex McKenney flew slightly under the radar during the season, as he returned from injury in the COVID shortened 2020 season. His real return to form came during the past 2021 season, as the hard throwing righty was purely dominant at most points of the season. McKenney threw 56.1 innings this year with 43 strikeouts and a 3.67 ERA, was twice named the America East Pitcher of the Week, and gave up one earned run or less in six of his eleven starts.
His final outing was perhaps his best in a Black Bear uniform, throwing 8.1 shutout innings in the America East Tournament against eventual champion NJIT, scattering six hits and allowing just two unlucky and eventually deciding unearned runs in the ninth. He was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Sinacola for his effort.
McKenney joins Justin Courtney as the most recent players to go from Maine hometowns to Orono to the professional ranks, as Courtney signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization earlier this year. Cody Laweryson remains the last Maine-native to be drafted, going to the Twins in the 14th Round in 2019.
Since Head Coach
Nick Derba officially became the 25th Head Coach in Maine Baseball history in June 2017, Maine has had multiple players sign professional contracts every single season with the exception of 2020.
