One moment you’re the star, and the next, you no longer exist. The reality check! Baseball can be cruel sometimes. A tall right-hander of the Cleveland Guardians was impressing spectators with his blazing fastball and exquisite control a few seasons back. Now, a sudden turn of events has shocked the league and left many to say a collective, confused, “What just happened?”
Fast forward to the present. Once the focal point of the Guardians’ rotation, the same pitcher has trouble adjusting to a new post out of the bullpen. His visits started to be irregular, his command erratic, and the authority that used to define him looked like a distant memory. What did the Guardians decide for the pitcher?
Triston McKenzie just got the worst news. The result of these challenges was a notable roster move: The Guardians assigned the pitcher for assignment, therefore eliminating him from their 40-man list. Guardians Manager Stephen Vogt addressed the choice, “It was really difficult to find innings for Triston, and that’s really what led to the decision… So when someone’s out of options, it isn’t easy. It’s not perfect, but this is why sometimes you have to make these really difficult decisions.”
Why a sudden decision? Following a difficult spell in relief, this choice followed from an 11.12 ERA over just 5.2 innings, surrendering seven earned runs and producing seven walks. Since the news broke, the fans have gone gaga over how they can let such a talent go to waste.
Triston McKenzie has been DFA’d pic.twitter.com/UHKYsZ4MS0
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 21, 2025
This move is even more surprising, considering the pitcher’s impressive 2022 season, when he went 11-11 with a 2.96 ERA over 191.1 innings and showed promise for the future. In 2023, a UCL sprain halted his progress. After choosing rehab over surgery, he returned in 2024 but struggled to recapture his form, having a 5.11 ERA in 16 starts.
The 2025 bullpen move offered a chance for reinvention, but the results were disappointing. Do they have a replacement? Well yes. The club has replaced him with right-handed Zak Kent from Triple-A Columbus, therefore ushering in a fresh chapter for both pitchers.
Vogt observed this in relation to McKenzie’s challenges, “We saw a really good version of Zak during spring training. He can spin the ball. Really good stuff and just a really good demeanor about him, and I’m really excited.” Vogt also underlined the team’s urgent demands that Kent might be able to meet: “We needed some length. We needed somebody that can go multiple innings, and Zak can do that for us.”
With so much going on, how can fans sit quietly? They didn’t. The baseball community responded quickly to the news, ranging from incredulity to conjecture about the pitcher’s future.
Fan reactions over the Guardians pitcher: A mix of shock, disappointment, and hope
The announcement of McKenzie’s assignment has sparked a rush of responses on the baseball scene as supporters use social media to express their astonishment, sadness, and a touch of disbelief. Now under review is the choice of rehabilitation over surgery in 2023. Pointing out a comment came, “Dam. Washed already. Should’ve got surgery when he had the chance.” Although surgery would have meant a longer recovery, some supporters think it may have given a better possibility for a complete return to form. The continuous challenges imply that the chosen road might not have produced the expected result.
Do D’FAD and Dead sound similar? For a moment, it created chaos, “Bro, I thought that said DEAD and I had a heart attack.” Including a little dark humor in the matter emphasized the emotional commitment fans have to the players and careers of their team. Though he is getting assigned is a shock.
A confusion that left many scratching their heads, “Can someone tell me what happened to him? He was great in 2022, but simply hasn’t been good since.” This comment captures the uncertainty over the pitcher’s drop. From a breakout season to consecutive years of underperformance, the path has seemed odd. His current situation has been influenced by injuries, changes in his role, and possibly the residual effects of the UCL sprain.
Still, his talent can’t be unseen, and fans have started urging their teams to consider him. One Blue Jays follower suggested, “Hey #BlueJays front office, an option over Lucas!?” Given his past performance, it’s fair that others could find promise in offering him another chance. He might be a future improvement over one of their present pitchers, most likely Lucas Giolito, who is currently injured.
And how can the Dodgers’ army stay behind? Yet another suggestion, “Just waiting for the Dodgers trade for him, and he becomes Pedro Martinez.” Interesting that people think he could become a powerful force like Pedro Martinez with a new team. A belief that change in the clubhouse can show significant improvement in his game.
The assignment classification signifies a major career turning point for the pitcher. Once praised as the Guardians’ rotation’s future, he now finds a different road ahead. The question is, will other franchises look out for him, or will his future hang in the air?
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