Bo McKinnis is a Major League Baseball sports agent. He was a student manager of the baseball team at Mississippi State University. While attending graduate business school at Vanderbilt University, he was asked by a Mississippi State teammate, Pete Young (who pitched in the Major Leagues with the Montreal Expos), to serve as his sports agent. He has gone on to represent over 100 Major League players, including Paul Byrd, José Canseco, Rusty Greer, Chris Hammond and Jay Powell.[1][2] He has represented over 20 first round draft picks, including Dewon Brazelton (third overall in 2001) and David Price (first overall in 2007).[3]
Was agent for Josh Hancock, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher who died in car accident on April 29, 2007.[4]
Donated money to Mississippi State, along with Major League players Jeff Brantley, Will Clark, Eric DuBose, Paul Maholm, Jay Powell, and Bobby Thigpen, to build a building at Mississippi State to provide new coaches' offices for the baseball team.[5]
Negotiated Mike Mussina's 2-year, $23 million extension with the New York Yankees.[6]
Negotiated David Price's $11.25 million contract ($8.5 million guaranteed) with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on August 15, 2007.[7]
Set the record for the largest signing bonus ever given to a drafted pitcher (Dewon Brazelton, $4.2 million in 2001) in the Major League Baseball Draft and then broke his own record when David Price received an even larger signing bonus, $5.6 million, in 2007.[8]
Represented Mike Minor who signed with the Atlanta Braves for a signing bonus of $2.42 million in 2009, which was the largest signing bonus ever given to an Atlanta Braves player and the largest signing bonus ever given to the 7th pick in the Major League Baseball draft.[9]
Is referenced in Paul Byrd's book Free Byrd.[10]
Became first sports agent to ever be featured in the Sporting News 125 year history in the column "On the Agent Side" in its January 17, 2011 issue.[11]