August 22: The Indians have officially promoted McKenzie to the active roster. To make a spot for the rookie, outfielder Bradley Zimmer was optioned to the team’s alternate training site.
August 20: Indians right-hander Triston McKenzie will make his major league debut Saturday with a start against the Tigers, Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com reports. The 23-year-old McKenzie is already on the Indians’ 40-man roster, so they won’t have to boot anyone from it to make room for him.
As Hoynes notes, this will be the first competitive outing for McKenzie since June 2018, as forearm and shoulder problems stunted his development for a couple of years. Before that, he was the 42nd overall pick in 2015 and a multi-time top 100 prospect, peaking as Baseball America’s 33rd-best farmhand in 2018. While his injury issues weighed him down that year, he still logged a 2.68 ERA with 8.64 K/9 and 2.78 BB/9 over 90 2/3 innings in his first Double-A season.
Now, the hope for Cleveland is that a healthy McKenzie will become the latest success story in its staff. The Indians have been known for churning out quality starters in recent years, which hasn’t changed this season. The club’s rotation entered Thursday first in the majors in ERA and third in FIP. They’ll remain in the majors’ elite in those categories after American League Cy Young front-runner Shane Bieber turned in yet another brilliant performance in shutting out the Pirates.
Aside from Bieber, the Indians have received tremendous production from Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac (though they optioned the latter last week for a violation of coronavirus protocols). Carlos Carrasco, Adam Plutko and Mike Clevinger have prevented runs at fine clips, but Clevinger was demoted alongside Plesac.
I wonder when Plesac and Clevinger are coming back to the majors?
They aren’t eligible til the day after McKenzie starts
Of subject but who would’ve believed that 3 weeks into this shortened “season” the Orioles would have a better winning percentage than the star studded Phillies.
Monday is the first day they are eligible.
@Francyso8- Whenever it is that they decide to behave themselves and not risk the health of themselves and others. Which is probably never.
showcasing for an OF bat on the trade market?
who is? Brad hand? cuz its not a guy like Mckenzie, especially after you booted two rotation pieces for being dummies
upton ?:)
Bj ?
Call me.
Priceless
Where?
How about Goodwin? Or Marsh?
How about Goodwin?
So does my winning streak….
I am looking forward to seeing him pitch. Hopefully he can have a strong showing. Was legit shocked they didn’t give the start to Logan Allen or Jeffrey Rodriguez. But happy for McKenzie, he has the most upside.
@partyatnapolis- The Tribe needs offense all of a sudden? Like an outfielder bat like Clint Frazier’s smh
They need 2 outfielders. Frazier seems too expensive though. Probably Joyce or Pillar. Would love Pederson if he is available. I like their chances though it would suck for them to win series with no fans, rather see someone who won recently or a big market team win.
If they really want two, some combination for JDM and Pillar could make a real difference on the offensive side of the ball. You really want to get aggressive take JBJ as a defensive replacement for JDM late in games. Doubt it’d cost a lot seeing how bloom operates.
Cleveland has plenty of defensive replacements so no need for Bradley Jr. The Indians already have a DH so I doubt JDM would be a fit, besides his salary would not fit.
@hockeyjohn- maybe you can be a defensive replacement? lol
Teoscar Hernandez. Blue Jays.
They need an outfielder and not a DH. They already have their DH is Framiel so Frazier is not a match for Cleveland. With all of their injuries, the Yankees need to keep Frazier anyways.
@Dorothy_Mantooth- Clint Frazier is a left fielder not a dh. And the Indians could DEFINITELY use him. But like you said the Yankees probably will keep Frazier as they should, his play has been excellent. So glad the Yankees didn’t trade him. Red Thunder is definitely in the mix as the left fielder next season likely platooning with Estevan Florial and Michael Tauchman.
In 6 games so far in RF, he has graded out as an average defender. Sure it is small sample time, but if the Indians are rolling our Domingo they can afford to roll out Frazier right now.
Throw in Judge and you got a deal Yank.
@FredMcGriff for the HOF- like I mentioned earlier no way the Yankees are trading Aaron Judge for Francisco Lindor. And the Yankees are not interested in trading Frazier in a package for Clevinger or Plesac who can’t follow the team’s protocol. The Yankees will likely try to sign Gio Urshela’s best friend, Francisco Lindor as a free agent after next season since Cleveland doesn’t wanna sign their franchise player. Unless the Yankees trade for him as a “rental” at the deadline next season. Jasson Dominguez will never be offered for Lindor during his walk year. Obviously, Frankie will be cheaper then he is right now. No true need for him this season.
Frazier for Clevinger or Plesac “who can’t follow the team’s protocol”? LOL!!! No friggin way, and the Yankees seemingly hate Frazier so take for team protocol.
I’m sure this kid will probably pitch five or six innings of two or three hit ball. He’s facing that putrid Tigers offense. Also, he’ll get the win. Matthew Boyd has been horrible in each of his starts. He is near the top of the majors in home runs given up. The Indians have success against the Tigers as they’ve won 20 straight games against them.
@tigerfan4ever- would the Tigers have any interest in trading for Miguel Andujar for 3rd base, lst base, & dh? Hearing Detroit wants to trade Matthew Boyd who has been struggling. Not seeing the Yankees doing a 1-1 swap though. Austin Romine and probably lefty starter minor leaguer Joey Wentz(TJ surgery) would likely have to be included. The Yankees are loaded with right handed arms. Al Abreu, Michael King, Ben Heller, Jonathan Holder, and Luis Cessa that could be had. Johnny Lasagna, Clarke Schmidt, Deivi Garcia and Luis Medina will not be traded. I love Detroit’s future. Andujar could definitely be a big part of that. He just needs a chance to play. The Tigers would be able to let that happen for sure.
Andujar can not play 3B and OF, doubt he could play 1B, and they have Miquel Cabrera at DH.. Where is the fit for Detroit?
@hockeyjohn- that wasn’t for you. It was for @tigerfan4ever
@hockeyjohn- It’s too bad the Yankees don’t want to trade for pitchers that go against protocol? But most teams don’t. So Yankees will likely pass on Cleveland Clevinger and Dan’s Favorite Nephew, Zach. Sorry. Oh so you wanna keep em? Gotcha
Hockeyjohn, no use arguing with him. Different name, same kid as the other handles. He is making ridiculous fantasy trades that will never happen. As for his constant bringing up Plesac and Clevinger, obvious jealousy for who would easily be 2 and 3 in his pathetic rotation. He will never understand no one wants his garbage for their teams.
Well said, Indiansjoe.
Yank4life with another doozy of a proposal!
Yes, the Tigers will trade you Matt Boyd and a good pitching prospect for your spare parts! Anymore spare parts the yanks need to get rid of? How about Tyler Wade for Pete Alonso?
@Indiansjoe-1-9-4-8… lmao
What difference does it make when they won last? But keep proving what a child you are
Don’t comment directly to the child, Indiansjoe. That is what he wants. He is jealous of the Indians pitching. Let him go get attention from his middle school peers.
@AssumeFactsNotInEvidence- Joey Wentz is out with with Tommy John nothing certain he’ll come back 100%. The Tigers need offense and would take Andujar or Frazier. The Yankees would prefer to move Andujar. NY won’t do a Andujar-Boyd swap so more pieces would have to be involved. What’s so hard to understand? lol everything else you said was delusional so have a good one guy.
@Indiansjoe- Your really being ridiculous now. I’m probably older then you? No hard feelings. Seriously. Just give it a rest.
@hockeyjohn- just relax. Life is way too short to act this way. Just hang on to all your players. I wish you my best. Sorry if I offended you.
tell that to Dane Dunning
Fast ball, slider, change up are his three pitches.. He has a lot of deception in his delivery… so, he should be okay.. the cameo is deserved based on how well he’s throwing at the alternate site. If you like Civale and Bieber.. McKenzie has many characteristics in his repertoire of these two young guys..
Seventy five pitches would appear to be his limit.. but.. we’ll see..
As far as the Boston trade idea listed.. Highly doubtful the Indians FO would even begin to consider it.. There is no reason for JBJr (Delino DeShields is everything JBJr is and a little more) and no to JD for a month or two with his salary and the Indians limited budget. The Indians have been patient with McKenzie for a long time.. They expect him to be in their rotation for an equally long time..
We’ll see..
Known Triston since he was a kid playing in Rec and Travel Ball down in West Palm Beach. Good kid and great family. Best of luck!
Who has more wins, Shane Bieber or the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Wow…Bieber actually has one more win than the Pirates do. I guess it’s not surprising, but that’s an insane stat.
#FreePlesac
FREE Agent….DFA those two selfish punks!
I nominate this for stupidest comment of the day. Heck, let’s make it month.
I second this
From what?
He already doesn’t wear a seat belt,so that’s out.
It strikes me that Frazier would be a good option to pursue for the Indians. If you aren’t going to resign or spend money on your own players than the only capital you have is prospects. Maybe the Indians should have hired Bloom because he is a master at that sort of team building.
In any event, Frazier very well COULD be pricing himself out because he is really making a statement right now. He’s absolutely destroying baseballs. His slash line is;
.333/.400/.667 and it isn’t simply BABIP driven either. His exit velo is 93.9 mph. Other players hitting similarly are Giancarlo Stanton, Matt Chapman Jorge Soler and others. Maybe there will be some regression but his stat line is not a fluke.
Even more important than that is the possibility that he has improved in the field. He has a UZR of .5 and 2 DRS. He’s only had 50 innings in the field so I do acknowledge it could be a mirage but if he could keep that up, he would be a serviceable outfielder with a powerful presence in the batters box.
Clint Frazier might be “to expensive” but he may never be this cheap to acquire again and it wouldn’t surprise me if a team called Cashman about him and find out that the Yankees are having second thoughts about trading him.
@SalaryCapMyth- yeah with all the injuries I really can’t see the Yankees parting with Frazier now. I remain public enemy 1 for not wanting certain pitchers that go against their team’s protocol. Lol! That’s their team & fans problem. Not mine and not yours. Have a great evening.
Time to find a trade partner for Plutko, a fungo bat and dozen bp balls should do it.
Cool
Kid was great in his debut.
Yes he was
Time to trade Clevenger before he gets hurt or suspended again. Lots of teams would ante up big for him.
No. Buy low, sell high, not give away a guy with Cy Young stuff at a discount. He’ll be back in the locker room soon.
@Polish Hammer- well hopefully Cleveland Clevinger doesn’t get everybody in the locker room sick with covid because he and Dan’s Favorite Nephew, Zach can’t follow team’s protocol. smh
@Yank4Life- thanks for chiming in but you don’t really have a dog in this race. If LeMahieu can test positive and come back for your Yanks and play than Cleveland Clevinger and Plesac who have each tested negative numerous times can and will come back and contribute. smh
He’s not going to get everyone in the locker room sick because he doesn’t have covid genius. If you think you can pawn your spare parts off for top tier pitching then go to the Yankees rumors and spout your BS. I’m sure there are plenty of other idiots that would love to hear your stupidity.
@jim stem- Well cross the Yankees off the list for Cleveland Clevinger or Dan Plesac’s Favorite Nephew Zach. NY doesn’t need any players like that here. Maybe the 2nd best team in NY( the blue jays) or the 3rd best team in NY(the Mets) would have interest in both of them. Definitely not the Yankees.
I think both will learn their lesson and the team will take them back in as teammates. That said, I see Clevinger as the one that the Indians might make available. I don’t think it will be this year unless we go on a prolong losing streak and fall out of the playoffs. And then it would have to be a good haul.
I think he’s absolutely available, but it won’t be at a discounted rate. The Indian’s SP depth is what allows him to be available, and you’re probably right in saying it likely won’t be this year. We’ll see what happens, but I’m not expecting much on the trade front TBH.
Hey Tribe fans….
Seriously? Why won’t they give Jake Bauers another shot in the OF? He was decent in the field last year, hit .220 with 12 bombs. That’s better than what Luplow, Naquin, Zimmer, Allen, Mercado And DeShields have given them this year! Hell…throw Reyes out there and let Bobby Bradley or even Nolan Jones DH. Reyes played it in SD…there wasn’t a DH. I’d take this lineup right now….
2B – Hernandez
3B – Ramirez
SS – Lindor
1B – Santana
RF – Reyes
LF – Santana
DH – Bauers/Jones/Bradley
C – Perez
CF – DeShields
Let them play!