January 24, 2023

By Steve Schuster

Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MB – The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of Winnipeg Goldeyes’ right-handed pitcher Will McAffer on Tuesday.

McAffer made 12 appearances for the Goldeyes at the end of 2022, posting a 1.54 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. The North Vancouver, B.C., native struck out 16 and allowed just four hits. McAffer then made two scoreless appearances during the postseason.

The 25-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 25th round in 2018 out of Tulane University (New Orleans, Louisiana). McAffer played four seasons in the Blue Jays’ farm system, averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings across 109 relief appearances.

In 2021, McAffer’s four-seam fastball averaged 93.3 miles per hour and 19.8 inches of induced vertical break (Major League average is approximately 15 inches). The 6-foot-2, 205-pound McAffer has been a member of the Canadian National Team, and pitched for them at the Americas Olympics Qualifier in May 2021.

McAffer is the first Goldeye to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization in 2023 and the 86th in franchise history.