Triston McKenzie
Triston McKenzie | |
---|---|
![]() McKenzie with the Cleveland Indians in 2020 | |
Cleveland Guardians – No. 24 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Brooklyn, New York | August 2, 1997|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 22, 2020, for the Cleveland Indians | |
MLB statistics (through 2021 season) | |
Win–loss record | 7–10 |
Earned run average | 4.58 |
Strikeouts | 178 |
Teams | |
|
Triston Andrew McKenzie (born August 2, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Amateur career[]
McKenzie attended Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. In 2015, his senior year, he went 9–5 with a 0.79 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 where he posted a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings pitched. In 2016, McKenzie began the season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers before being promoted to the Lake County Captains; 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 where he posted a 12–6 record with a 3.46 ERA in 25 games started.[7][8] That same year, he pitched in the All-Star Futures Game.[9][10] In 2018, he spent the season with the Akron RubberDucks, 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.[11] In 2019, he missed the season due to lat and pectoral muscle strains.[12] Following the season, McKenzie was added to the Indians 40-man roster.[13]
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.[14][15] 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.[16]
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.[17] McKenzie was recalled on May 31, and in that day’s game 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 wouldn’t be recalled until 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.
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.[18]
References[]
- ^ "Indians select RHP Triston McKenzie in First Round of 2015 First-Year Player Draft". MLB.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Mound rivals Triston McKenzie, Austin Smith share draft dream". pbgametime.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- ^ "Big games, big summer looming for Royal Palm Beach's McKenzie – Sun Sentinel". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. March 25, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- ^ "Triston McKenzie, newest Indian, dreaming sweet dreams". cleveland. July 1, 2015.
- ^ "Triston McKenzie Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Triston McKenzie Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ "Triston McKenzie: Indians' pitching prospect on the rise". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Will Futures Game nudge Cleveland Indians' Triston McKenzie, Francisco Mejia in right direction?". 10 July 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Triston McKenzie looks forward to Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Triston, Indians #1 overall prospect". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Mandy Bell (November 20, 2019). "Indians add McKenzie to 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ Mandy Bell (August 22, 2020). "Dream debut for McKenzie: 10 K's and a W". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ "Cleveland's Triston McKenzie strikes out 10 in MLB debut and first competitive start in nearly two years". CBSSports.com.
- ^ "Triston McKenzie Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
- ^ "Cleveland Indians option RHP Triston McKenzie to Triple-A, recall LHP Kyle Nelson". 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Indians starter Triston McKenzie reflecting on major league debut in 2020, mentoring those around him".
External links[]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- 1997 births
- Living people
- African-American baseball players
- Akron RubberDucks players
- Arizona League Indians players
- Baseball players from New York (state)
- Cleveland Indians players
- Lake County Captains players
- Lynchburg Hillcats players
- Mahoning Valley Scrappers players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Sportspeople from Brooklyn
- 21st-century African-American sportspeople