Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie is facing a significant setback due to an elbow sprain, sidelining him for up to six weeks and potentially longer. The injury, diagnosed as a strained ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), could even require surgery. McKenzie was placed on the 15-day injured list over the weekend, and after an evaluation by team physician Dr. Mark Schickendantz, he's been advised to refrain from throwing for an extended period. The Guardians are allowing McKenzie to seek a second opinion.
Guardians manager Terry Francona acknowledged the possibility of differing medical opinions and stated the team will share further information when available. This injury comes as another blow to the defending AL Central champions, who are also missing starter Cal Quantrill due to a shoulder strain. The team has relied heavily on rookies Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen this season, and top prospect Gavin Williams is slated to make his major league debut soon.
This is not McKenzie's first encounter with injury this season. He missed the first two months with a shoulder strain and only recently returned to the rotation. The 25-year-old had a breakout season in 2022, posting an 11-11 record with a 2.96 ERA in 30 starts. He's considered a potential ace for Cleveland, but injuries have hampered his progress throughout his career.
