Padres Sign Triston McKenzie to Minor League Deal

The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Triston McKenzie to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to major league spring training, adding depth to their pitching staff during an active offseason. The 28-year-old McKenzie, who spent his entire professional career with the Cleveland Guardians, will join the team in February after becoming a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.

McKenzie, selected by Cleveland in the first round, 42nd overall, out of Royal Palm Beach High School in Florida in the 2015 MLB Draft, signed for an overslot bonus of $2.3 million. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing around 165 pounds, he debuted in the majors during the 2020 shortened season, striking out 10 Detroit Tigers in six innings for his first victory. He appeared in the postseason that year, pitching out of the bullpen in the wild-card series against the New York Yankees.

His most promising stretch came in 2022, when McKenzie posted an 11-11 record with a 2.96 ERA over 31 appearances, including 30 starts. He logged 191 1/3 innings, struck out 190 batters and limited opponents to a .209 batting average while issuing just 47 walks. That performance highlighted his...