Pitcher Triston McKenzie has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus after clearing waivers Monday. The Cleveland Guardians designated McKenzie for assignment last week.
McKenzie, a former first-round draft pick, posted an 11.12 ERA in four relief appearances this season before the move. He allowed a home run and four earned runs in his last outing in Baltimore.
The right-hander has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, compiling a 3-8 record with a 5.11 ERA. He spent time on the injured list in 2023 with a right shoulder strain and missed three months last year with a right elbow sprain.
To collect his $1.95 million salary for the year, McKenzie needed to accept the assignment to the minors. This follows a season where he was optioned to Triple-A Columbus after going 3-5 with a 5.11 ERA in 16 starts. More information on McKenzie's situation is available here.
Meanwhile, the Columbus Clippers lost 3-2 to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Sunday, falling to 13-12 on the season. The full box score is available here.
Parker Messick delivered a strong performance for the Clippers in the loss. The pitcher allowed just one hit over 5.0 shutout innings, striking out eight.
Other Guardians minor league affiliates were also in action. The Lake County Captains lost 12-11 to the Great Lakes Loons here, while the Akron RubberDucks won 16-7 against the Richmond Flying Squirrels here. The Lynchburg Hillcats fell 10-2 to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers here.
Alfonsin Rosario showcased power for Lake County, hitting his fifth home run of the season. Pitcher Izaak Martinez was promoted to Lake County following a strong outing for Lynchburg.
