Triston McKenzie Bio
Triston Andrew McKenzie is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays in the San Diego Padres organization in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on August 2, 1997, in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, and was selected by the Cleveland Indians with the 42nd overall pick of the 2015 MLB draft. McKenzie made his major league debut in 2020, and is widely regarded as one of the more promising young arms to come through the Cleveland system in recent years.
After working his way through the minor leagues, McKenzie earned a reputation for swing-and-miss stuff and poise on the mound. Following several seasons in Cleveland, he signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres in December 2025, opening a new chapter in his career.
Early Life and Background
Triston Andrew McKenzie was born on August 2, 1997, in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, where he grew up and developed his interest in baseball. He is of Jamaican descent through his father, a heritage that has shaped his family identity. His younger brother, T.J., shared a similar athletic path, later being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 39th round of the 2019 MLB draft before choosing to attend Vanderbilt University to play college baseball.
McKenzie attended Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, where he emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in the country. During his senior year in 2015, he posted a 9-5 win-loss record with an outstanding 0.79 earned run average, drawing national attention from scouts and media outlets alike.
Path to Baseball
Following his dominant senior season, McKenzie was selected by the Cleveland Indians with the 42nd overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft. He signed for $2.3 million and chose to forgo his commitment to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University, beginning his professional career right out of high school. That decision marked the first major step in what would become a long climb through the Cleveland farm system.
McKenzie spent his first professional season with the Arizona League Indians, the organization’s rookie winter league affiliate, where he posted a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings pitched. In 2016, he moved through the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the Lake County Captains, combining for a 1.62 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 83 and one-third innings. His rapid progression earned him assignments at higher levels each year, and by 2017, he was appearing in the prestigious All-Star Futures Game as a representative of Cleveland’s top prospects.
Triston McKenzie Career
Early Career (2015-2019)
After signing with Cleveland in 2015, McKenzie began a methodical climb through the minor leagues. He pitched for the Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats in 2017, going 12-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 25 starts, and was named to the All-Star Futures Game that summer. The following year, he advanced to Double-A Akron, where he went 7-4 with a 2.68 ERA over 90 and two-thirds innings, cementing his status as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects.
McKenzie missed the entire 2019 season due to lat and pectoral muscle strains, a setback that briefly delayed his timeline to the majors. Following the year, Cleveland added him to the 40-man roster, signaling that his major league debut was approaching.
Cleveland Indians / Guardians Breakthrough (2020-2022)
On August 22, 2020, McKenzie made his major league debut against the Detroit Tigers, striking out ten batters in six innings. His ten strikeouts were the second most by an Indians pitcher in his first major league start. In the shortened 2020 season, he appeared in eight games for the Indians, finishing 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 33 and one-third innings.
The 2021 season brought both opportunity and adversity. McKenzie began the year in Cleveland’s starting rotation, but after struggling to a 1-3 record and a 6.89 ERA, he was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. After his recall, he set the Indians franchise record for most consecutive strikeouts on May 31 against the Chicago White Sox, fanning eight straight batters. He also turned in a memorable performance against the Los Angeles Angels on August 21, allowing only two hits and striking out Shohei Ohtani three times.
McKenzie’s 2022 campaign marked a true turning point. Prior to the season, pitcher Marcus Stroman publicly promised on Twitter to buy him a Rolex if he logged more than 160 innings with an ERA below 3.70. McKenzie delivered on both counts, finishing 11-11 with a 2.96 ERA in 191.1 innings. The Athletic described the year as a breakout season, and McKenzie himself called the experience refreshing.
Later Cleveland Seasons (2023-2025)
McKenzie opened the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list with a right teres major muscle strain, and after just two starts following his activation, he was placed back on the injured list with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He returned in late September 2023, but the injury-plagued year limited his overall impact. In 2024, he made 16 starts for Cleveland, going 3-5 with a 5.11 ERA and 74 strikeouts across 75 and two-thirds innings.
McKenzie began the 2025 season in the Guardians’ bullpen, making four relief appearances and struggling to an 11.12 ERA with four strikeouts in 5 and two-thirds innings. On April 21, 2025, he was designated for assignment by Cleveland, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Columbus on April 28. He elected free agency on September 29, ending his time in the Cleveland organization.
San Diego Padres (2025-Present)
On December 18, 2025, McKenzie signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres, joining a new organization as he worked to re-establish himself in the major leagues. The move gave him an opportunity to reset and compete for a role in the Padres’ pitching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
McKenzie’s major league debut in August 2020, in which he struck out ten Detroit Tigers, ranks as one of the most striking first starts in recent Cleveland history. His franchise record of eight consecutive strikeouts set in 2021 and his career-best 2.96 ERA in 2022 stand as the defining statistical milestones of his career to date.
Triston McKenzie Career Wins
Across his time in the Cleveland system and major league roster, McKenzie has compiled a body of work highlighted more by his strikeout ability and upside than by sheer win totals. His major league victories have been concentrated in the 2020 and 2022 seasons, with 11 wins coming during his breakout 2022 campaign.
Major League Highlights
McKenzie’s 11 wins in 2022 represented the high-water mark of his major league career and helped him fulfill Marcus Stroman’s playful preseason wager. He also recorded two wins during the 2020 season, his first taste of major league success.
Triston McKenzie Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McKenzie is of Jamaican descent through his father, a background that has been part of his family identity throughout his life. His younger brother, T.J., was also an accomplished baseball player, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 39th round of the 2019 MLB draft before opting to attend Vanderbilt University.
Personal Life
McKenzie grew up in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, where he attended Royal Palm Beach High School and developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the country. He chose to begin his professional career immediately after high school, signing with the Cleveland Indians rather than attending Vanderbilt University on a college baseball scholarship.
2025 Season Performance
McKenzie’s 2025 season was a challenging one. He opened the year in the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen, but four relief appearances produced an 11.12 ERA with four strikeouts in 5 and two-thirds innings. On April 21, 2025, he was designated for assignment by Cleveland, ending his first stretch in the major league bullpen. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Columbus on April 28, before electing free agency on September 29.
The December 18, 2025 signing of a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres offered McKenzie a fresh start and a chance to compete for a role in a new organization. The Padres’ investment in his arm signaled continued belief in his long-term potential despite his recent struggles.