Triston McKenzie

Triston Andrew McKenzie (born August 2, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians with the 42nd overall selection of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Triston McKenzie
McKenzie with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023
Cleveland Guardians – No. 24
Pitcher
Born: (1997-08-02) August 2, 1997
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 22, 2020, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record18–24
Earned run average3.74
Strikeouts384
Teams

Amateur career

McKenzie attended Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. In 2015, his senior year, he had a 9–5 win–loss record with a 0.79 earned run average (ERA).[1] He was drafted by the Indians with the 42nd overall selection of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[2][3][4] He signed for $2.3 million, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University.[5]

Professional career

McKenzie spent 2015, his first professional season, with the Arizona League Indians (rookie winter league) where he posted a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings pitched. In 2016, McKenzie began the season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (rookie summer league) before being promoted to the Lake County Captains (high A league); he posted a combined 1.62 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 83+1⁄3 innings pitched between the two teams.[6] In 2017, McKenzie played for the Lynchburg Hillcats (A league) where he posted a 12–6 record with a 3.46 ERA in 25 games started.[6][7] That same year, he pitched in the All-Star Futures Game.[8][9] In 2018, he spent the season with the Akron RubberDucks (Double A), going 7–4 with a 2.68 ERA over 90+2⁄3 innings. MLB Pipeline ranked McKenzie as Cleveland's first ranked prospect entering into the 2019 season.[10] In 2019, he missed the season due to lat and pectoral muscle strains.[11] Following the season, McKenzie was added to the Indians 40-man roster.[12]

On August 22, 2020, McKenzie made his major league debut against the Detroit Tigers, striking out ten batters in six innings; McKenzie's 10 strikeouts in his debut performance are the second most by an Indians pitcher in their first major league start.[13][14] With the 2020 Cleveland Indians, McKenzie appeared in 8 games, compiling a 2–1 record with 3.24 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 33+1⁄3 innings pitched.[15]

McKenzie began the 2021 season as a member of Cleveland's starting rotation. On May 22, 2021, McKenzie was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers after compiling a 1–3 record, a 6.89 ERA, and 30 walks over 31+1⁄3 innings.[16] McKenzie was recalled on May 26, and on May 31 against the Chicago White Sox, he set the Indians franchise record for most consecutive strikeouts, punching out 8 White Sox hitters in a row. McKenzie was demoted again after a poor outing on June 12, due in great part to his high rate of walking batters. He was recalled for a spot start on July 9, in which he pitched seven shutout innings, giving up just one hit and one walk, while striking out nine Kansas City Royals batters.

McKenzie at Progressive Field in 2022

Prior to the 2022 season, Marcus Stroman publicly promised on Twitter that he would buy McKenzie a Rolex watch if he pitched more than 160 innings that season and finished with an ERA below 3.70.[17] He finished the year with an 11–11 record and 2.96 ERA in 191.1 innings.[15] It was described in The Athletic as a "breakout season." McKenzie called it "refreshing."[18]

McKenzie began the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list with a right teres major muscle strain. He was activated to make his season debut on June 4, 2023.[19] After just two starts, McKenzie was scratched from a scheduled June 16 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to right elbow discomfort.[20] The next day, he was placed on the injured list after an MRI revealed a sprain in his ulnar collateral ligament.[21] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 6.[22] McKenzie was activated from the injured list on September 24.[23]

Personal

McKenzie's younger brother, T.J., was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 39th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and currently plays college baseball at Vanderbilt University.[24]

References
  1. "Indians select RHP Triston McKenzie in First Round of 2015 First-Year Player Draft". MLB.com.
  2. South Florida Sun-Sentinel (June 7, 2015). "Park Vista's Smith, RPB's McKenzie could go on Day 1 of MLB draft". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  3. "Mound rivals Triston McKenzie, Austin Smith share draft dream". pbgametime.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  4. "Big games, big summer looming for Royal Palm Beach's McKenzie – Sun Sentinel". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. March 25, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  5. "Triston McKenzie, newest Indian, dreaming sweet dreams". cleveland. July 1, 2015.
  6. "Triston McKenzie Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  7. "Triston McKenzie: Indians' pitching prospect on the rise". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  8. "Will Futures Game nudge Cleveland Indians' Triston McKenzie, Francisco Mejia in right direction?". 10 July 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  9. "Triston McKenzie looks forward to Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  10. "Triston, Indians #1 overall prospect". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  11. Joe Noga (October 21, 2019). "Cleveland Indians No. 1 prospect Nolan Jones removed from Arizona Fall League after aggravating previous hand injury". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  12. Mandy Bell (November 20, 2019). "Indians add McKenzie to 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  13. Mandy Bell (August 22, 2020). "Dream debut for McKenzie: 10 K's and a W". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  14. "Cleveland's Triston McKenzie strikes out 10 in MLB debut and first competitive start in nearly two years". CBSSports.com.
  15. "Triston McKenzie Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  16. "Cleveland Indians option RHP Triston McKenzie to Triple-A, recall LHP Kyle Nelson". 22 May 2021.
  17. Mcwilliam, Bryan (January 11, 2022). "Stroman offers to buy Rolexes for McKenzie, Toussaint if they pitch well". theScore.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  18. Meisel, Zack (October 4, 2022). "Inside Triston McKenzie's journey to a breakout season for the Guardians". The Athletic. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  19. "Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Reinstated for season debut". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  20. "Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Scratched with elbow issue". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  21. "Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Shut down for multiple weeks". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  22. "Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  23. "Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Reinstated for Sunday's start". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  24. "Indians starter Triston McKenzie reflecting on major league debut in 2020, mentoring those around him".
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