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MIAMI — Talented former first-round pick Billy McKinney Miles Mikolas Jersey , the Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie left fielder and leadoff batter, is already playing for his fourth major-league organization even though he is only 24 years old.On Friday, when the Jays visit the Miami Marlins to start a three-game series, McKinney will carry a .351 batting average with an even more impressive OPS of 1.147. He has played just 12 games this year but already has three homers and four doubles.McKinney, who is from Texas, was drafted 24th overall straight out of high school by the Oakland A’s in 2013. In 2014, he was part of a blockbuster trade, getting sent to the Chicago Cubs along with shortstop Addison Russell and right-hander Dan Straily.Article continues below ...Ironically, Straily is the pitcher McKinney will face on Friday.In 2016, the Cubs traded for closer Aroldis Chapman, sending McKinney and three other prospects to the New York Yankees.McKinney made his major-league debut this year with the Yankees, getting a hit in his first at-bat. But he injured his left shoulder the next day, went to the disabled list and, ultimately, back to the minors.On July 26 Bud Norris Jersey , the Yankees traded McKinney to Toronto, and the Blue Jays promoted him to the majors on Aug. 17.The reason McKinney is important is that the Jays (60-73) are going nowhere this year. They have lost four games in a row and were just swept in three by the team with the worst record in the majors, the Baltimore Orioles.Toronto has to find players who belong as part of their future, which is where McKinney comes into play.McKinney — if nothing else — was part of two trades that helped the Cubs acquire Russell and Chapman, who played large roles in Chicago ending its 108-year World Series title drought.But can McKinney be more than just a trivia question? So far, he is proving some scouting reports wrong.“Scouts who saw McKinney at (Triple-A) Scranton said he was a low-energy player who looked lost against pitchers with an even average breaking ball,” Baseball America wrote.On Friday, McKinney will face Straily (5-6, 4.35 ERA), who is coming off a great performance in his most recent start. Straily allowed just three hits and no runs in a win over the Atlanta Braves.Straily relied mostly on his fastball, which he threw 44 times, and his slider, which he tossed 39 times.“I had zero changeup, so I had to have those two (other pitches),” Straily said. “I found out early that I didn’t have my changeup. I got three outs on my changeup but that was later in the game. Early on http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-jason-motte-jersey , it was nonexistent.”The Jays will counter with right-hander Aaron Sanchez (3-5, 4.95 ERA), a 26-year-old Californian who was drafted 34th overall by Toronto in 2010.Sanchez throws an above-average fastball at 93.7 mph, but he missed time this year with a contusion on his right index finger. In his only start since returning from the disabled list, Sanchez was not sharp, allowing six runs in four innings.Since there is no designated hitter at a National League park, it will be interesting to see what the Jays do with DH Kendrys Morales, the reigning American League Player of the Week after hitting .481 with eight homers and 13 RBIs. His streak of at least one homer a game ended at seven on Monday, still setting a franchise record.The major-league record is eight, held by Marlins manager Don Mattingly along with Ken Griffey Jr. and Dale Long.Mattingly, though, is more worried about his current team as opposed to his old hitting exploits. The Marlins (53-81) have the second-worst record in the National League and are in a similar position as the Jays, trying to find out who is part of their future.The Marlins have actually played well in their past 10 games, going 5-5 — all against quality opponents.During that span, they took two of three from the Washington Nationals Yadier Molina Jersey , split two games with the Yankees, split four games with the first-place Atlanta Braves and scored 13 runs but still lost two straight to the team with the best record in the majors, the Boston Red Sox. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Aside from that fearsome left-handed swing everybody knew, Willie McCovey provided an example of humility in how he lived for many of his San Francisco Giants teammates year after year.“McCovey was our leader,” Gaylord Perry said as his fellow Hall of Famer was remembered in a celebration of his life Thursday at AT&T Park.McCovey died Oct. 31 at age 80 after suffering from ongoing health issues.Hall of Famers, former teammates and winners of the Willie Mac Award named for him attended on a picture-perfect day. McCovey’s 44 was written into the infield dirt next to his position at first base.The San Francisco Fire Department paid tribute with a spraying show from a boat in his namesake McCovey Cove in the bay beyond the right-field arcade. Bouquets of flowers were left on McCovey’s statue across the water.A first baseman and left fielder who won NL Rookie of the Year in 1959 and MVP 10 years later, McCovey was a .270 career hitter with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBIs in 22 major league seasons, 19 of them with the Giants. He also played for the Athletics and Padres.“What he did on the field, everybody knows what he did,” Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda said. “But as a human being, Willie McCovey was very special.”McCovey wore No. 44 to honor Hank Aaron — who like McCovey grew up in Mobile, Alabama.“If there is a second life, I’d like to come back as a major league baseball player,” McCovey once said.“Stretch http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-brett-cecil-jersey ,” as he was fondly known, never won a World Series after coming so close. The Giants lost the 1962 World Series to the New York Yankees, dropping Game 7 1-0 when McCovey lined out to second baseman Bobby Richardson with runners on second and third for the final out.“Willie’s indelible moment happened to be a screaming line drive that found Bobby Richardson’s glove in Game 7 of the 1962 World Series,” Giants CEO Larry Baer said. “A few feet one way or another, people say, and Willie’s legacy rises to a whole different level. Well, I couldn’t disagree with that more. Even if that line drive had gotten past Bobby Richardson and driven in the winning run, that one heroic moment would never have defined Willie’s legacy. His legacy transcends baseball, transcends his six All-Star appearances, his Rookie of the Year award, his MVP, even his Hall of Fame induction.”McCovey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986 after his first time on the ballot.Those who played with him cherished McCovey for his thoughtful ways both on and off the field. Home run king Barry Bonds called him “Uncle Mac” ”because I’ve always admired him and he’s always taught me the game of baseball as much as Willie (Mays) and my dad have,” Bonds said Thursday.“I got to know Willie Mac the man,” said Felipe Alou, who was roommates with McCovey in the majors Adam Wainwright Jersey , minors and even winter ball in the Dominican Republic. “We came here in 1958 a bunch of kids. Willie obviously came up in ’59, another child, another kid. I have been a very privileged person, I got to play with five Hall of Famer players with the Giants.”Past Willie Mac Award winners in attendance included Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow, Dave Dravecky, Buster Posey, Jack Clark, Shawon Dunston, Nick Hundley, Marvin Benard and Mike Felder.The honor is voted on by the players, coaches and training staff to recognize the Giants player who most exemplifies McCovey’s inspirational ways on the field and in the clubhouse.“I have never been around a more humble man and I’ve never been around someone who lifted up others around him more than himself,” Dravecky said. “I’ve never been around a man who loved so deeply and cared so much about wearing the Giants uniform. For Willie, he showed us the way.”