Guardians' McKenzie could miss 8 weeks with shoulder strain

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 15: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (24) reacts after giving up a 2-run home run to New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) (not pictured) during the third inning of the Major League Baseball ALDS Game 3 between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians on October 15, 2022, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.
Icon Sportswire / Getty

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie will be shut down for two-to-eight weeks due to a teres major muscle strain in the back of his shoulder, the team announced Monday.

The 25-year-old was removed from a spring training game Sunday after one inning because of arm tightness.

McKenzie was scheduled to start the Guardians' second game of the regular season in Seattle against the Mariners.

"Extremely (frustrating)," McKenzie told MLB.com's Mandy Bell before learning of his diagnosis. "But I think it's part of the game and I think we're trying to be proactive about it and get ahead of it."

The New York native was stellar for the Guardians last season, authoring a 2.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 190 strikeouts in 191 1/3 innings.

There's been no announcement about who will replace McKenzie in Cleveland's rotation, although Hunter Gaddis is a leading candidate.

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