Triston McKenzie

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The last few years have been up and down for McKenzie, but he finished 2020 on a decidedly upward trajectory. He made his major league debut three weeks after his 23rd birthday, excelled down the stretch and earned a spot on the Indians’ playoff roster. It was quite the turnaround after McKenzie missed all of 2019 with an upper back injury. Scouts have questioned McKenzie’s durability since the Indians drafted him 42nd overall in 2015 due to his rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame, but he’s excelled when healthy. He won the high Class A Carolina League’s pitcher of the year award in 2017 and ranked second in the minors with 186 strikeouts. He reached Double-A the following year as a 20-year-old and put together a strong summer despite being one of the youngest players in the Eastern League. That performance carried into the big leagues in 2020, despite a 24-month gap between competitive games. McKenzie struck out 10 batters in six innings in his debut, the second-most in a debut in franchise history, and posted a 3.24 ERA over 33.1 innings down the stretch to help the Indians secure a playoff spot.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Even with his skinny frame, McKenzie’s fastball averages 93 mph and has reached 97. He holds that velocity well and while it dips in the middle of his starts, he shows the ability to reach back for more and finish strong. McKenzie’s fastball plays up and gets swings and misses thanks to tremendous extension out of his delivery and a high spin rate. McKenzie also has a good feel for spinning his curveball and gets good depth on the offering, making it an out pitch that draws consensus plus grades from evaluators. His slider and changeup both improved over the last year to help round out his arsenal. His slider was especially impressive and showed it can be an above-average, swing-and-miss offering. McKenzie commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. He may never fill out his lean frame, so learning how to manage a starter’s workload remains a point of emphasis and will be critical for him to reach mid-to-front of the rotation ceiling.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenzie’s debut was everything the Indians could have hoped for, especially given the unique nature of his long gap between games given the delayed start to the 2020 season. He has a chance to be Cleveland’s next great homegrown starter and should open the 2021 season in the big league rotation.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #7 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: McKenzie has ranked as the Indians' top prospect the last two years but that standing has slipped after an upper-back injury cost him all of 2019. The Indians have been very cautious with him throughout his career, partially due to his rail-thin frame. But he's always shown exceptional upside, and he pitched in the 2017 Futures Game and reached Double-A in 2018 as a 20-year-old.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: There have long been questions about McKenzie's durability. He suffered from some forearm soreness early in 2018, but his 2019 injury might speak even more to his durability because it may stem from a lack of strength in his shoulder. If he can avoid similar issues going forward, however, he should be able to get back to the high-end upside he's also long shown. His fastball sits at 92 mph and can touch 95. It plays up thanks to long extension and high spin rate. He also has a good feel for his curveball, which can be an out pitch, and his changeup has the potential to be an above-average offering. He commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft.
  
  THE FUTURE: After missing all of 2019, McKenzie needs to get back on the mound and show that he's ready to pitch a full season. He's still just 22 and hasn't been challenged much yet on the field. If he can get back to the level he was at a year ago, he'll soon again be in position to work himself into the mix for a spot in the big leagues.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: In the spring of 2015, McKenzie presented scouts with a difficult assignment. He had an excellent amateur track record and impressive present stuff, but he was listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165 pounds. While some questioned how much weight his frame would ever carry, the Indians drafted McKenzie 42nd overall and have been rewarded for the decision. He has built an impressive track record of success in pro ball. In 2017 alone, he pitched in the Futures Game, was named Carolina League pitcher of the year and ranked second in the minors with 186 strikeouts. He was slowed by forearm soreness in 2018 that the Indians took a very conservative approach with, delaying his debut until June. Still, he was pitching in Double-A Akron as a 20-year-old and put together a strong summer. The concerns about his thin frame remain today, but his track record and stuff are such that they have been lessened.
  
  Scouting Report: McKenzie's fastball can get up to 95 mph and in each of the last two years it averaged about 92 mph. He held that velocity throughout the season and while it would dip during starts, he also showed the ability to reach back for more and finish strong. His plus fastball plays up and gets swings and misses thanks to the extension in his delivery and the high spin rate he generates. He also has a good feel for spinning his plus curveball and gets good depth on the offering. McKenzie's changeup continues to develop and has the potential to be an above-average offering. He is starting to learn how to sequence and attack hitters with his full arsenal. He commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. McKenzie's biggest area for development remains improving his physique to allow him to manage a starter's workload.
  
  The Future: McKenzie will pitch nearly all of 2019 as a 21-year-old and is speeding toward the big leagues, where he has the upside to be a frontline starter. To this point he hasn't been challenged much and he has a chance to earn a spot in the big leagues in 2019. But with Cleveland's crowded big league rotation, the Indians can afford to let McKenzie force the issue with a strong showing in the upper levels of the minors.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 2018
  McKenzie continued to build on his outstanding track record of success in 2017. He was named Carolina League pitcher of the year, pitched for the U.S. team in the Futures Game and ranked second among all minor leaguers with 186 strikeouts. He did it all while pitching nearly the whole season as a 19-year-old, making him one of the youngest players in the CL. McKenzie also presents the same challenge to evaluators today that he did as an amateur: His track record is unimpeachable and he has impressive present stuff, but he is listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165 pounds. McKenzie's fastball can get up to 95 mph and it averaged about 92 mph in 2017. He held that velocity throughout the season and while it would dip during starts, he also showed the ability to reach back for more and finish strong at the end of his outings. His fastball plays up and gets swings and misses thanks to his delivery's extension and the high spin rate at which he throws it. He also has a good feel for spinning his curveball and gets good depth on the offering, which can be an out pitch. His changeup isn't as advanced as his other two pitches, but continues to develop and has the potential to be an above-average offering. He commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. McKenzie's biggest area for development remains improving his physique to allow him to manage a starter's workload, and he made important strides to that end with Lynchburg. McKenzie is speeding toward the big leagues and has the upside to be a frontline starter. He'll advance to Double-A Akron in 2018 for his first taste of the upper minors.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 2017
  The 2015 draft was a strong one for Florida prep pitchers and McKenzie presented scouts with a difficult assignment that spring. He had an excellent amateur track record and impressive present stuff, but he was listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165 pounds. While some questioned how much weight his frame will ever carry, the Indians drafted McKenzie 42nd overall and signed him for $2,302,500, the second largest bonus for a player drafted after the first round that year. He rewarded them in 2016 by excelling at short-season Mahoning Valley and then low Class A Lake County. McKenzie stands out as much for his pitchability as for his stuff. He earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. That, along with his control, helps his stuff play up even more. His fastball can get up to 95 mph, but he more typically works in the low 90s. More strength would help him maintain his velocity deeper into games. He uses his height to his advantage and pitches down in the zone. He gets good depth on his curveball, which is a swing-and-miss offering. His changeup lags behind his other two pitches but has the potential to be an above-average offering as he gets more comfortable throwing it Improving his changeup and getting stronger so that he can maintain his velocity deeper into games are his two biggest tasks going forward. McKenzie's combination of upside and advanced pitchability has many excited about his future. He could likely handle starting the 2017 season at high Class A Lynchburg, but he'll pitch nearly the entire season at age 19, giving the Indians time to can bring him along more slowly with an assignment to Lake County.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #8 prospect in 2016
  In a strong year for Florida prep pitchers, McKenzie stood out in 2015 for both his amateur track record and projection. He struck out 157 batters in 91 innings as a senior while leading Royal Palm Beach High to the state semifinals. The Indians drafted him 42nd overall and signed him for $2,302,500, the second largest bonus for a player drafted after the first round in 2015. McKenzie presented scouts with a difficult assignment before the draft. While he has excellent present stuff, he is also listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165 pounds. While some scouts questioned how much weight his frame will ever carry, the Indians are confident that he will grow into his body. They are encouraged in part by McKenzie's work ethic and his dedicated program with renowned trainer Eric Cressey. If McKenzie does eventually fill out, there's plenty to dream on. His fastball gets up to 93 mph, but he more typically pitches in the upper 80s. He gets good depth on his curveball and both it and his changeup have above-average potential. He is a good athlete and has an easy delivery that allows him to throw strikes with his whole arsenal. McKenzie didn't turn 18 until after he signed and barely pitched after throwing so much during his high school season. Still, he is advanced enough to handle an assignment to low Class A Lake County in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #51 prospect in 2015 draft
  Scouts in South Florida have spent the spring watching McKenzie and Austin Smith, trying to determine which of the two high-profile, projectable high school righthanders in the area will be a better professional pitcher. Though Smith has seen his velocity tick up as many expected it would and McKenzie hasn't shown that kind of consistent improvement, a split camp remains. McKenzie is young for the class and won't turn 18 until August. That gives him more time to fill out his 6-foot-5, 160-pound frame and a chance to improve his velocity. He's worked hard to add strength, but some scouts wonder how much weight he'll ultimately be able to carry. If McKenzie does eventually fill out, there's plenty to dream on. His fastball gets up to 93 mph, but he more typically pitches in the upper 80s. He gets good depth on his curveball and both it and his changeup have above-average potential. He is a good athlete and has an easy delivery that allows him to throw strikes with his whole arsenal. McKenzie, a Vanderbilt commit, has an advanced feel for his craft. How his body develops as he gets older will determine whether he is able to reach his lofty ceiling.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #11 prospect in 2018
  After missing the first two months of the season with forearm soreness, McKenzie made his Akron debut on June 7 and was dominant from open to close, permitting three or fewer earned runs in all but one of his 16 starts and never walking more than three in an outing. He hasn’t gotten much bigger, the Indians say, but he has packed more strength into his wiry frame. His fastball also took a step forward, averaging 93 mph and touching as high at 95 mph this season. The Indians and their player-development team also went to work improving McKenzie’s breaking ball by using a combination of their internal analytics and the results captured by Edgertronic cameras. He also worked in the changeup more often to get used to the increased amount of lefthanded hitters he’ll find at the upper levels. When he’s done developing, his ceiling is as a mid-rotation starter with three above-average pitches.
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #6 prospect in 2017
  The first thing scouts mention about McKenzie is his extremely slender frame. He's long and lean with tantalizing present stuff. He struck out 186 batters this season to rank second in the minors and finished with a particular flourish, racking up 31 strikeouts in 20 innings. McKenzie's fastball rangers from 87-94 mph, and he parked the pitch at the higher end of that range in the early portion of his outings. He coupled it with a sharp 12-to-6 curveball that projects as a future plus offering. He's also developing a changeup that the Indians think could be plus as well. The biggest focal point for McKenzie is simply getting bigger and stronger, so he can hold his velocity deep into games.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #2 prospect in 2016
  Drafted 42nd overall in 2015, McKenzie simply dominated NYP hitters at Mahoning Valley, allowing just three earned runs and striking out 55. He earned a promotion to low Class A Lake County on Aug. 3, where his ERA rose (3.18) but his walk and strikeout rates spiked. Long and lanky, McKenzie still has plenty of room for projection, and he pitches beyond his years. Throwing with an easy, repeatable delivery, his 90-92 mph fastball plays up due to his extension and natural deception. He touched 95 mph this summer and could reach that velocity more consistently as he fills out. McKenzie can elicit ugly swings with his curveball, which plays off his fastball well and has depth. Both his curve and changeup have above-average potential. Physically raw but advanced in terms of his pitching feel and makeup, McKenzie has a high ceiling as a potential frontline starter. "He was to me the best pitching prospect (in the league)," State College manager Johnny Rodriguez said. "He's got the age, the body, the build, and he's tough on the mound. His fastball and his secondary stuff have very good finish and action, and he doesn't get rattled. The one time we almost got to him, you could tell he just continued to pitch."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #26 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #44 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #33 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #68 prospect in 2017

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The last few years have been up and down for McKenzie, but he finished 2020 on a decidedly upward trajectory. He made his major league debut three weeks after his 23rd birthday, excelled down the stretch and earned a spot on the Indians’ playoff roster. It was quite the turnaround after McKenzie missed all of 2019 with an upper back injury. Scouts have questioned McKenzie’s durability since the Indians drafted him 42nd overall in 2015 due to his rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame, but he’s excelled when healthy. He won the high Class A Carolina League’s pitcher of the year award in 2017 and ranked second in the minors with 186 strikeouts. He reached Double-A the following year as a 20-year-old and put together a strong summer despite being one of the youngest players in the Eastern League. That performance carried into the big leagues in 2020, despite a 24-month gap between competitive games. McKenzie struck out 10 batters in six innings in his debut, the second-most in a debut in franchise history, and posted a 3.24 ERA over 33.1 innings down the stretch to help the Indians secure a playoff spot.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Even with his skinny frame, McKenzie’s fastball averages 93 mph and has reached 97. He holds that velocity well and while it dips in the middle of his starts, he shows the ability to reach back for more and finish strong. McKenzie’s fastball plays up and gets swings and misses thanks to tremendous extension out of his delivery and a high spin rate. McKenzie also has a good feel for spinning his curveball and gets good depth on the offering, making it an out pitch that draws consensus plus grades from evaluators. His slider and changeup both improved over the last year to help round out his arsenal. His slider was especially impressive and showed it can be an above-average, swing-and-miss offering. McKenzie commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. He may never fill out his lean frame, so learning how to manage a starter’s workload remains a point of emphasis and will be critical for him to reach mid-to-front of the rotation ceiling.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenzie’s debut was everything the Indians could have hoped for, especially given the unique nature of his long gap between games given the delayed start to the 2020 season. He has a chance to be Cleveland’s next great homegrown starter and should open the 2021 season in the big league rotation.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The last few years have been up and down for McKenzie, but he finished 2020 on a decidedly upward trajectory. He made his major league debut three weeks after his 23rd birthday, excelled down the stretch and earned a spot on the Indians’ playoff roster. It was quite the turnaround after McKenzie missed all of 2019 with an upper back injury. Scouts have questioned McKenzie’s durability since the Indians drafted him 42nd overall in 2015 due to his rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame, but he’s excelled when healthy. He won the high Class A Carolina League’s pitcher of the year award in 2017 and ranked second in the minors with 186 strikeouts. He reached Double-A the following year as a 20-year-old and put together a strong summer despite being one of the youngest players in the Eastern League. That performance carried into the big leagues in 2020, despite a 24-month gap between competitive games. McKenzie struck out 10 batters in six innings in his debut, the second-most in a debut in franchise history, and posted a 3.24 ERA over 33.1 innings down the stretch to help the Indians secure a playoff spot.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Even with his skinny frame, McKenzie’s fastball averages 93 mph and has reached 97. He holds that velocity well and while it dips in the middle of his starts, he shows the ability to reach back for more and finish strong. McKenzie’s fastball plays up and gets swings and misses thanks to tremendous extension out of his delivery and a high spin rate. McKenzie also has a good feel for spinning his curveball and gets good depth on the offering, making it an out pitch that draws consensus plus grades from evaluators. His slider and changeup both improved over the last year to help round out his arsenal. His slider was especially impressive and showed it can be an above-average, swing-and-miss offering. McKenzie commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. He may never fill out his lean frame, so learning how to manage a starter’s workload remains a point of emphasis and will be critical for him to reach mid-to-front of the rotation ceiling.
  
  THE FUTURE: McKenzie’s debut was everything the Indians could have hoped for, especially given the unique nature of his long gap between games given the delayed start to the 2020 season. He has a chance to be Cleveland’s next great homegrown starter and should open the 2021 season in the big league rotation.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McKenzie has ranked as the Indians’ top prospect the last two years but that standing has slipped after an upper-back injury cost him all of 2019. The Indians have been very cautious with him throughout his career, partially due to his rail-thin frame. But he’s always shown exceptional upside, and he pitched in the 2017 Futures Game and reached Double-A in 2018 as a 20-year-old.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: There have long been questions about McKenzie’s durability. He suffered from some forearm soreness early in 2018, but his 2019 injury might speak even more to his durability because it may stem from a lack of strength in his shoulder. If he can avoid similar issues going forward, however, he should be able to get back to the high-end upside he’s also long shown. His fastball sits at 92 mph and can touch 95. It plays up thanks to long extension and high spin rate. He also has a good feel for his curveball, which can be an out pitch, and his changeup has the potential to be an above-average offering. He commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft.
  
  THE FUTURE: After missing all of 2019, McKenzie needs to get back on the mound and show that he’s ready to pitch a full season. He’s still just 22 and hasn’t been challenged much yet on the field. If he can get back to the level he was at a year ago, he’ll soon again be in position to work himself into the mix for a spot in the big leagues.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McKenzie has ranked as the Indians' top prospect the last two years but that standing has slipped after an upper-back injury cost him all of 2019. The Indians have been very cautious with him throughout his career, partially due to his rail-thin frame. But he's always shown exceptional upside, and he pitched in the 2017 Futures Game and reached Double-A in 2018 as a 20-year-old.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: There have long been questions about McKenzie's durability. He suffered from some forearm soreness early in 2018, but his 2019 injury might speak even more to his durability because it may stem from a lack of strength in his shoulder. If he can avoid similar issues going forward, however, he should be able to get back to the high-end upside he's also long shown. His fastball sits at 92 mph and can touch 95. It plays up thanks to long extension and high spin rate. He also has a good feel for his curveball, which can be an out pitch, and his changeup has the potential to be an above-average offering. He commands the ball well and earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft.
  
  THE FUTURE: After missing all of 2019, McKenzie needs to get back on the mound and show that he's ready to pitch a full season. He's still just 22 and hasn't been challenged much yet on the field. If he can get back to the level he was at a year ago, he'll soon again be in position to work himself into the mix for a spot in the big leagues.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  McKenzie was sidelined by a minor forearm injury for the first two months of the season that the Indians played very conservatively. He returned to action in June, making his Double-A debut. McKenzie has been solid in his first handful of starts and has even seen his velocity tick up a bit to hit the mid 90s. He’ll look to maintain that during the second half.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: McKenzie continued to build on his track record of success in 2017 and ranked second in the minors with 186 strikeouts. He presents the same challenge to evaluators today that he did as an amateur: His track record is unimpeachable and he has impressive stuff, but he is listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5 and 165 pounds. Scouting Report: McKenzie's fastball can get up to 95 mph and averaged about 92 in 2017. He held that velocity throughout the season, and while it would dip during starts, he also showed the ability to reach back for more at the end of his outings. His fastball plays up and gets swings and misses thanks to the extension in his delivery and the high spin rate on the pitch. He also has a feel for spinning his curveball, which can be an out pitch. His changeup isn't as advanced but has the potential to be above-average. McKenzie needs to improve his routines and physique to allow him to manage a starter's workload. The Future: McKenzie is speeding toward the big leagues and has the upside to be a frontline starter. He will advance to Double-A Akron in 2018 for his first taste of the upper minors.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: McKenzie presented scouts with a difficult assignment in 2015. He had an excellent track record and present stuff, but he was listed at a rail-thin 6-foot-5, 165 pounds. While some questioned how much weight his frame will ever carry, the Indians drafted McKenzie 42nd overall. He rewarded them in 2016 by excelling at short-season Mahoning Valley and then low Class A Lake County. Scouting Report: McKenzie stands out as much for his pitchability as for his stuff. He earns praise for his makeup and understanding of his craft. That, along with his control, helps his stuff play up even more. His fastball can get up to 95 mph, but he more typically works in the low 90s. More strength would help him maintain his velocity deeper into games. He uses his height to his advantage and pitches down in the zone. He gets good depth on his curveball, which is a swing-and-miss offering. His changeup lags behind his other two pitches but has the potential to be an above-average offering as he gets more comfortable throwing it.
  
  The Future: McKenzie's combination of upside and advanced pitchability has many excited about his future. He could likely handle starting the 2017 season at high Class A Lynchburg, but the Indians can bring him along more slowly with an assignment to Lake County.