Billy McMillon facts for kids

Billy McMillon, born on November 17, 1971, is a former American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder. He was part of four different teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) for six seasons, between 1996 and 2004. Billy was a left-handed batter and thrower. He stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 172 pounds. He is a member of the International League Hall of Fame.

After his playing career, McMillon became a coach and manager in Minor League Baseball. He managed the Worcester Red Sox in 2021. This team is a Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. In 2022, he became a development coach for the Rochester Red Wings. This team is a Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. In December 2024, it was announced that McMillon would manage the Fredericksburg Nationals. This team is a Low-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

Early Life and College Baseball

Billy McMillon was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He graduated from high school in Bishopville, South Carolina. He went to Clemson University. There, he played college baseball for the Tigers from 1991 to 1993. He had a strong batting average of .382. The Florida Marlins chose him in the eighth round of the 1993 MLB draft.

Billy McMillon's Playing Career

McMillon started his professional career in 1993. He played for the Elmira Pioneers, a farm team of the Marlins. In 1994, he played for the Kane County Cougars. He was chosen as a starter for the Midwest League all-star game. In 1995, McMillon played for the Portland Sea Dogs. He batted .313 with 14 home runs and 93 runs batted in. He led the Eastern League in hits (162) and walks (96). He was named an outfielder on the Eastern League postseason all-star team. He was also named the league's most valuable player.

Major League Baseball Debut

McMillon moved up to Triple-A in 1996. Playing for the Charlotte Knights, he was named the International League rookie of the year. He made his major league debut with the Marlins in 1996. He played in 41 MLB games in 1996 and 1997, batting .188. On July 21, 1997, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. With the Phillies in 1997, McMillon played in 24 games. He batted .292 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

He later played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers in 2000 and 2001. He appeared in 66 games, batting .255 with five home runs and 28 RBIs. McMillon's last MLB team was the Oakland Athletics. He played for them in 2001, 2003, and 2004. With Oakland, he batted .248 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs in 138 games.

Overall MLB Performance

In total, McMillon played in 269 MLB games. He batted .248 with 16 home runs and 93 RBIs. He played in three major league postseason games with Oakland in 2003. He had one hit in six at bats during their loss to the Boston Red Sox. He mostly played as an outfielder (133 games). He also played as a designated hitter (43 games) and first baseman (six games). As an outfielder, he had a .974 fielding average.

McMillon also played in 992 minor league games over 11 seasons. He had a .304 batting average, 127 home runs, and 610 RBIs. In 2019, McMillon was chosen for the International League Hall of Fame.

Managing and Coaching Baseball

McMillon joined the Red Sox organization in 2008. He was the batting coach for the Single-A Greenville Drive. He coached there in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, he became the manager of the Drive. He led Greenville to a 155–124 record in two seasons. His team also made one playoff appearance.

On January 20, 2012, he became the manager of the Salem Red Sox. This team plays in the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. After a close season in 2012, he stayed on as manager for 2013. He led his team to win the Carolina League championship. Salem won their division and then beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Potomac Nationals in the playoffs. The Salem Red Sox won their last 11 games of that season.

Managing Double-A and Triple-A Teams

In December 2013, McMillon was named manager of the Portland Sea Dogs. This team is the Red Sox' Double-A affiliate. He had played for this team himself in 1995. In 2014, his first year managing the Sea Dogs, they finished first in their division. They had an 88–54 record. McMillon was named the league's manager of the year. His team included future stars like Mookie Betts and Eduardo Rodríguez. Portland lost in the first round of the playoffs that year. McMillon managed the Sea Dogs again in 2015.

From 2016 to 2018, McMillon worked as a roving coordinator. He helped minor league outfielders and base runners in the Red Sox' farm system. In December 2018, McMillon returned to managing. He became the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox. This was the Red Sox' Triple-A team. The 2019 PawSox finished with a 59–81 record. McMillon was set to manage in 2020, but the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, McMillon became the first manager of the Worcester Red Sox. This team took over from Pawtucket as Boston's Triple-A affiliate.

Managerial Record Overview

Personal Life and Achievements

Billy McMillon earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson University. He also has an MBA from the University of Phoenix. While at Clemson, McMillon joined the Pi Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. In 2012, McMillon was elected into the Clemson University Athletic Hall of Fame. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife and two children.