John McMillon

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #17 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: McMillon was drafted twice, once out of high school and again after his junior year at Texas Tech. But ultimately he pitched four years in college and signed with the Royals as a nondrafted free agent after the five-round 2020 draft. McMillon started 2023 in Low-A and pitched at two other minor league levels. He struck out 91 batters in 51.1 innings, registering a 45.3% strikeout rate that led all minor league relievers with at least 50 innings. The Royals called him up in August. He made four appearances before a right forearm strain cut his season short.
  
  Scouting Report: After missing time in his first two pro seasons, McMillon returned with more confidence in his fastball in 2023 and watched his average velocity climb nearly 5 mph compared to 2022. He generally trusted his stuff more, and for good reason. McMillon has an explosive, double-plus 96-100 mph fastball that generates very high whiff rates and is complemented by a plus upper-80s gyro slider that’s hard and short. He occasionally dabbles with a mid-to-upper-80s changeup in side sessions, but it’s not part of his regular repertoire. McMillon’s control is fringe-average at best, but his 12.4% walk rate in 2023 represents progress. He made improvements to his mechanics and repeated his delivery better.
  
  The Future: McMillon has high-leverage reliever upside on the strength of his ferocious two-pitch arsenal and could even be in the running for the Royals’ vacant closer job in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #357 prospect in 2020 draft
  McMillon was one of the hardest throwing high school arms in Texas in the 2016 draft class and also had some of the best raw power in the state. The Rays drafted him in the 21st round that year, but he opted to head to Texas Tech. Last year he turned down the Tigers as an 11th-rounder. McMillon still has an exceptional arm—he can reach triple digits with a plus-plus fastball and he can bury his slider in the dirt to go with it. He started—and showed off his power as a DH—as a sophomore, but he’s been exclusively a reliever the last two seasons. His control regularly deserts him. He walked 6.8 per nine for his college career and 7.7 per nine in 2020. As a wild power reliever, McMillon should be an attractive senior sign, although he could return to Texas Tech for a fifth season if he chooses.
• Ranked #311 prospect in 2019 draft
  A top two-way prospect out of Jasper, Texas with power, a power arm and plenty of athleticism, McMillon's college career hasn't gone completely to plan, but there are still plenty of reasons to believe in his excellent right arm. The Red Raiders moved McMillon into their rotation as a sophomore, but he moved back to the bullpen in 2019. He had a rough start to the season as his velocity was down significantly and he had real trouble throwing strikes. A month into the season, McMillon had eight walks and two hit batters but only three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. As the weather warmed up, however, McMillon's fastball and his control began to return. By the end of the regular season, McMillon carved up Texas Christian with an upper-90s fastball dotting the upper corners of the strike zone and a slider he could bury in the dirt. He did tire after three innings and 55-plus pitches, but it was a reminder of why it's pretty easy to dream on him becoming an impressive power reliever in pro ball. McMillon also has well above-average bat speed and can put on jaw-dropping power displays in batting practice, although he's gotten to hit very little in college or on the summer circuit.
• Ranked #252 prospect in 2016 draft
  Last year Luken Baker and Joe Davis gave Texas a pair of high school two-way stars with the power and arm strength to be pro options as either pitchers or hitters. Both ended up going to college to try to keep pitching and hitting. McMillon is rawer than either of them, but he has a similar two-way profile as a big righthanded pitcher who can touch 95-96 mph off the mound and the raw power to hit a ball 450 feet as a lefty power hitter at the plate. He's a Texas Tech signee with the talent to pitch and hit at the college level.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A top two-way prospect out of Jasper, Texas with power, a power arm and plenty of athleticism, McMillon's college career hasn't gone completely to plan, but there are still plenty of reasons to believe in his excellent right arm. The Red Raiders moved McMillon into their rotation as a sophomore, but he moved back to the bullpen in 2019. He had a rough start to the season as his velocity was down significantly and he had real trouble throwing strikes. A month into the season, McMillon had eight walks and two hit batters but only three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. As the weather warmed up, however, McMillon's fastball and his control began to return. By the end of the regular season, McMillon carved up Texas Christian with an upper-90s fastball dotting the upper corners of the strike zone and a slider he could bury in the dirt. He did tire after three innings and 55-plus pitches, but it was a reminder of why it's pretty easy to dream on him becoming an impressive power reliever in pro ball. McMillon also has well above-average bat speed and can put on jaw-dropping power displays in batting practice, although he's gotten to hit very little in college or on the summer circuit.