The Cleveland Guardians lost 6-3 in their Cactus League debut.
But as we’ve seen in the past, that means little to nothing at this point.
If anything, the fans might feel encouraged by what they saw from Triston McKenzie in his brief start.
The righty hurler was throwing absolute heaters, averaging 93 mph on his four-seamer, slightly up from his 92.5 mph average in his breakout 2022 season.
Nevertheless, MLB analyst Mike Kurland urged fans to pump the brakes about it, as he also got off to a strong start last season before falling from grace.
Before people get excited, #Guardians Triston McKenzie was averaging 93+ on the 4-seamer in June of last year. How'd that work for him? pic.twitter.com/PZix380kV2
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) February 23, 2025
That’s a valid point, and he was only out there for two innings, but it was encouraging nonetheless.
He allowed just one hit – a solo homer against Elly De La Cruz.
He also logged one strikeout with no walks, and, more importantly, he looked to be in control with his throws.
McKenzie’s four-seamer peaked at 95 mph in his first start of the season, and that’s the kind of thing the team will need to see from him to get him back to the starting rotation.
The 27-year-old went 3-5 with a 5.11 ERA last season before being optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers last season.
He struck out 74 hitters and handed out 49 walks in 16 starts in the Majors.
McKenzie has struggled with injuries since his breakout season in 2022.
But if he stays healthy and in command, we know what he’s capable of.
Four of his 24 pitches reached the 95 mark in the debut vs. the Reds, and 16 of them were thrown for strikes.
NEXT: Triston McKenzie Had An Encouraging Sign On Saturday
