Heading into the 2026 season, the San Diego Padres had high hopes for Triston McKenzie, a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher with a decade-long tenure at the Cleveland Guardians. Despite a promising start, McKenzie had experienced a downturn over the past three years, highlighted by a rough 2025 where he issued 31 walks in just 21.1 innings in the minors, and seven walks in 5.2 innings with the Guardians.
Enter the Padres, who saw potential in McKenzie’s 6-foot-5 frame and frequent fastball usage. With pitching coach Ruben Niebla, known for his expertise, McKenzie added a sinker to his repertoire, sparking optimism that he might be MLB-ready come season start. Niebla, a true pitching guru, was ready to take McKenzie under his wing.
However, the plan hit a snag. McKenzie was sent to Triple-A El Paso after struggling with control, issuing nine walks in 6.1 innings during spring training. For a Padres team counting on their rotation's depth, this was not the start they envisioned for McKenzie.
In his 2026 debut with Triple-A El Paso, McKenzie's struggles continued. He lasted just two innings, striking out three but walking four, allowing one hit, and surrendering two runs.
All four walks came in the first inning, with McKenzie throwing 44 pitches, only 19 of which were strikes-a strike rate of just 43.1%. That's a tough pill to swallow.
The lone hit was against the Giants' top prospect, Bryce Eldridge, who is also navigating his own developmental hurdles.
While it's too early to declare McKenzie a lost cause, there's no denying he's in his prime and needs to turn things around. The hope was that a change of scenery would help him rediscover the form that once made him a top prospect.
Unfortunately, both his spring training and minor league debut have fallen short. Here's hoping McKenzie finds his rhythm in his next outing.