McKenna soaks it up during taxi squad experience

When young outfielder Ryan McKenna joined the Orioles as a taxi squad player in New York this week, he was a step closer to playing in his first big league game. As he looked around the clubhouse, not only was he reunited with former minor league teammates but he saw them thriving and leading the Orioles to wins.

He was the Orioles' fifth pick in round four of the 2015 draft out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Hampshire. The Orioles' first two picks in that draft were DJ Stewart and Ryan Mountcastle. And their round 13 pick in 2015 was Cedric Mullins.

"It's funny, because the 2015 draft class is well represented this year, and it's been fun to see," McKenna said during a pregame Zoom interview on Thursday. "Playing with these guys for so many games and so much time, it kind of brings hope to a lot of guys. It's been fun to watch them succeed. I'm a good teammate first and foremost, along with all these guys. Pulling for them as much as I can and it's been exciting to see them win. And hopefully, be a part of that and keeping it rolling."

As part of the taxi squad on the road trip, McKenna is not on the active roster during games unless the Orioles were to add him. But he can take pregame work with the club, and he's mixing in with the rest of the roster. He's just not eligible to play come game time.

"I think it's been good. Seeing all the guys again is a fun experience, and to travel to New York is a great city. Been fun so far and feels good to be around the guys," he said.

The Orioles added McKenna to the 40-man roster last November. Baseball America rates him as the club's No. 21 prospect, and MLBPipeline.com ranks him at No. 22. In 135 games at Double-A Bowie in 2019 he hit .232/.321/.365 with 26 doubles, six triples, nine homers, 78 runs, 25 steals and 54 RBIs. Playing center field and batting at or near the top of the Bowie batting order, he was a key player on a team that played for the Eastern League championship.

Now McKenna, who turned 23 on Feb. 14, is soaking up experience as he watches and observes in the big league clubhouse.

"Just the way you go about who you are as a player," he said when asked about what he has learned. "There are a lot of professional attitudes here, and the way they go about things is a great example. They are very diligent in their work. Don Long and the hitting side has been doing great stuff with us and just kind of adopting me into it. Been good bouncing ideas off him and transitioning from where I was at the alternate site. Pretty cool."

He can sense the fun of being on a team chasing a playoff spot as he waits for his big day to come.

"Yeah, of course. I'm very positive and optimistic and praying that the opportunity for me comes as soon as it can. Had a good conversation with Brandon (Hyde). Said I feel confident here and if and when you need me I feel ready to contribute to a wining ballclub here in Baltimore. Excited to see where this team will finish up this season."

O's need to bounce back: The Orioles' playoff hopes took a damaging hit last night as they got swept 6-0 and 10-1 by the Yankees. It was a long night of not great baseball. The club's defense let down starter Keegan Akin in the first inning of the nightcap and he got just two outs.

So the O's just didn't get it done in any phase of the game. Along with poor defense, they had just six hits in two games, and starters Akin and Alex Cobb allowed nine runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The O's turn to right-hander Dean Kremer today. He allowed just one hit and one run to New York last Sunday, winning his major league debut.

Belanger special airs today: A one-hour documentary on Mark Belanger, the shortstop from the Orioles' glory years, airs today at 11 a.m. on MLB Network. The film, called "Belanger: Big League Ballplayer, Small Town Story," details his journey from Pittsfield, Mass., to success in the majors.

The man known as "The Blade" won eight Gold Gloves with the Orioles between 1969 and 1978 and played on some of the greatest teams in Orioles history.

Click here for an article from the Berkshire Eagle, which is published in Pittsfield, on this documentary. It details how former O's general manager Dan Duquette had a hand in getting the film onto MLB Network.