Ryan McKenna

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #25 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: McKenna was always a long-lead prospect as a New England high schooler, but even in that context he has never had a sustained period of high-level production outside of a half-season at high Class A Frederick in 2018. McKenna spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he focused on improving all aspects of his offensive game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McKenna worked to improve his approach at the alternate site, benefiting from the organization's new hitting coaches and philosophy. Hitting the ball harder was a point of emphasis, too. McKenna is at his best when he takes an all-fields approach that allows him to spray line drives instead of changing his swing for power. He will likely top out as an average hitter with below-average power, and needs work to reach even those thresholds. McKenna is a plus runner with good instincts on the bases and has long shown the ability to play an above-average center field with an above-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenna's speed and defense will keep getting him chances. He's going to have to improve at the plate to win even a bench role in the majors leagues.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #17 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: What was always meant to be a slow and steady development for the New Hampshire native, as he competed with players who got in far more baseball than he could in New England, was jolted forward when he broke out in an all-star campaign at high Class A Frederick in 2018. A season at Double-A Bowie, however, has knocked some of that shine off.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: As far as carrying tools, the book on McKenna remains the same: he's a plus runner with at least an above-average arm who can steal a base and play center field. He also has an eye, but he got away from the all-fields, line-drive approach that best suits him in favor of a fly ball happy swing in 2019. This left a larger gap than previously existed between his average-hit ceiling with fringe power and the current reality.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenna's floor, given his defense and speed, was always as a bench outfielder. His 2019 season brought questions as to whether his ceiling would be as a part-time player as well. He might be asked to start the season at Double-A Bowie again before moving to Triple-A Norfolk in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #8 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The top prep player in New England in his draft year was snatched away from the hometown Red Sox when the Orioles drafted him and signed him away from a Liberty commitment. McKenna exploded with 28 extra-base hits in 67 games in 2018 at high Class A Frederick, earning a Carolina League all-star nod before struggling after a promotion to Double-A Bowie.
  
  Scouting Report: McKenna refined his approach to be on time for the fastball and adjust to breaking balls, helping his bat speed and barrel control play up into what projects as an average hit tool with fringe pop, but plenty of gap power for extra-base hits. Conversely, his ability to bunt for base hits was lauded as he dealt with his late-season slump, and he still was able to work a walk even when it wasn't going well. His above-average speed plays up and makes him the best bet in the Orioles' minor league system to stick in center field, where he projects as an average defender with an average arm.
  
  The Future: McKenna is the type of player for whom the sum may exceed the parts. He improved to the point that an everyday major league role is possible. His ability to play all three outfield positions gives him a path to being a fourth outfielder as well, but he'll need to prove he can hit at the higher levels of the minors. A return to Double-A Bowie is the first step on that path to Baltimore.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #161 prospect in 2015 draft
  McKenna endeared himself to the national scouting community by emerging from a remote area in the northeast and showing intriguing tools on the showcase circuit. McKenna is a high-ceiling player, and some scouts project him to develop average or better tools across the board. He has a promising righthanded swing, with loose wrists and potential for above-average bat speed, though his timing came and went at times last summer, and he sometimes looked overmatched against high quality competition. Fans of McKenna's believe that his hit tool will develop into a weapon as he gets more exposure to good pitching, though he is far from a finished product. McKenna is an average runner with an average arm. His power is mostly to the gaps now, but some scouts project it to develop into an average tool. McKenna earns high praise for his makeup, and his work ethic leads some to believe that he will get the most out of his tools. He is committed to Liberty.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #20 prospect in 2018
  It’s been a decade since the Orioles drafted a high school outfielder who made it to the majors. McKenna has a chance to end that drought. McKenna hit .377/.467/.536 in the Carolina League before a promotion to Double-A. He had twice as many multi-hit games (32) as hitless games (16) and led the league in most offensive categories before being bumped up in June. McKenna is more of a well-rounded player than one with any loud tools. He impressed evaluators with his approach and swing, and showcased an excellent batting eye while improving his power in his three months in Frederick. He’s an average runner who projects as an average defender in center field with an average arm. McKenna’s amazing first half was far beyond anything the fourth-round pick had ever done before and his production dipped dramatically after his promotion, so there is reasonable skepticism surrounding McKenna’s bat. His struggles at Double-A are a reminder that he projects as more of an average hitter with fringe-average power, but that might be enough to get him to the majors if he can stick in center field.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McKenna was always a long-lead prospect as a New England high schooler, but even in that context he has never had a sustained period of high-level production outside of a half-season at high Class A Frederick in 2018. McKenna spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he focused on improving all aspects of his offensive game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McKenna worked to improve his approach at the alternate site, benefiting from the organization's new hitting coaches and philosophy. Hitting the ball harder was a point of emphasis, too. McKenna is at his best when he takes an all-fields approach that allows him to spray line drives instead of changing his swing for power. He will likely top out as an average hitter with below-average power, and needs work to reach even those thresholds. McKenna is a plus runner with good instincts on the bases and has long shown the ability to play an above-average center field with an above-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenna's speed and defense will keep getting him chances. He's going to have to improve at the plate to win even a bench role in the majors leagues.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McKenna was always a long-lead prospect as a New England high schooler, but even in that context he has never had a sustained period of high-level production outside of a half-season at high Class A Frederick in 2018. McKenna spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he focused on improving all aspects of his offensive game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McKenna worked to improve his approach at the alternate site, benefiting from the organization's new hitting coaches and philosophy. Hitting the ball harder was a point of emphasis, too. McKenna is at his best when he takes an all-fields approach that allows him to spray line drives instead of changing his swing for power. He will likely top out as an average hitter with below-average power, and needs work to reach even those thresholds. McKenna is a plus runner with good instincts on the bases and has long shown the ability to play an above-average center field with an above-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenna's speed and defense will keep getting him chances. He's going to have to improve at the plate to win even a bench role in the majors leagues.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: What was always meant to be a slow and steady development for the New Hampshire native, as he competed with players who got in far more baseball than he could in New England, was jolted forward when he broke out in an all-star campaign at high Class A Frederick in 2018. A season at Double-A Bowie, however, has knocked some of that shine off.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: As far as carrying tools, the book on McKenna remains the same: he’s a plus runner with at least an above-average arm who can steal a base and play center field. He also has an eye, but he BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 45 Risk: Medium got away from the all-fields, line-drive approach that best suits him in favor of a fly ball happy swing in 2019. This left a larger gap than previously existed between his average-hit ceiling with fringe power and the current reality.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenna’s floor, given his defense and speed, was always as a bench outfielder. His 2019 season brought questions as to whether his ceiling would be as a part-time player as well. He might be asked to start the season at Double-A Bowie again before moving to Triple-A Norfolk in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: What was always meant to be a slow and steady development for the New Hampshire native, as he competed with players who got in far more baseball than he could in New England, was jolted forward when he broke out in an all-star campaign at high Class A Frederick in 2018. A season at Double-A Bowie, however, has knocked some of that shine off.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: As far as carrying tools, the book on McKenna remains the same: he's a plus runner with at least an above-average arm who can steal a base and play center field. He also has an eye, but he got away from the all-fields, line-drive approach that best suits him in favor of a fly ball happy swing in 2019. This left a larger gap than previously existed between his average-hit ceiling with fringe power and the current reality.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenna's floor, given his defense and speed, was always as a bench outfielder. His 2019 season brought questions as to whether his ceiling would be as a part-time player as well. He might be asked to start the season at Double-A Bowie again before moving to Triple-A Norfolk in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The top prep player in New England in his draft year was snatched away from the hometown Red Sox when the Orioles drafted him and signed him from a Liberty commitment. McKenna exploded with 28 extra-base hits in 67 games in 2018 at high Class A Frederick, earning a Carolina League all-star nod before struggling at Double-A Bowie. Scouting Report: McKenna refined his approach to be on time for the fastball and adjust to breaking balls, helping his bat speed and barrel control play up into what projects as an average hit tool with fringe pop, but plenty of gap power for extra-base hits. Conversely, his ability to bunt for base hits was lauded as he dealt with his late-season slump, and he still was able to work a walk even when it wasn’t going well. His above-average speed plays up and makes him the best bet in the Orioles’ minor league system to stick in center field. The Future: McKenna is the type of player for whom the sum may exceed the parts. He improved to the point that an everyday major league role with a platoon floor is possible after 2018, and could return to Double-A Bowie to see that through in 2019.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Much like Hays last season, McKenna broke out this season at Frederick to the tune of a .392/.482/.582 line with 26 extra-base hits in 61 games. He also impressed with his speed both on the bases and in center field, and showed the ability to impact the game in every way. That earned him a move up to Bowie, where a repeat performance would solidify him as one of the organization’s top prospects.