Santiago.- The Cibaeñas Eagles announced on Monday the signing of the pitchers Triston McKenzie, a 28-year-old American right-hander with experience in the Major Leagues, and Oscar Rayo, a 23-year-old left-handed Nicaraguan pitcher on the rise within the system of the Kansas City Royals.
The move is part of the efforts of the Baseball Operations Department to strengthen the pitching staff in view of the 2025-2026 season of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM).
Triston McKenzie, 28 years old, made his debut in the Major Leagues in 2020 with the Cleveland Guardians and has since accumulated six seasons in the best baseball in the world. With a height of six feet and five inches, the right-hander is known for his varied repertoire, which includes a 94 mph fastball, a 88 mph slider, and a 84 mph curve.
His best performance came in 2022, when he recorded a 11-11 record, with a 2.96 ERA in 191.1 innings pitched, distributed in 30 starts. That year he struck out 190 batters, highlighting a start with 14 strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox, a team he also faced with eight consecutive strikeouts in another game.
Overall, McKenzie has accumulated 80 starts in MLB, with 462 strikeouts in 442 innings, a record of 21-29 and a 4.07 ERA.
The general manager of the Eagles, Gian Guzmán, valued his arrival stating:
“Triston is a pitcher with proven ability to dominate at the Major League level. His ability to strike out and his experience will be very important assets, whether in our rotation or in the bullpen”.
On the other hand, Oscar Rayo, 23 years old, is considered a promising left-handed arm within the minor league system of the Kansas City Royals. His most recent performance was with the Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Born in Managua, Nicaragua, Rayo is six feet one inch tall and weighs 180 pounds. In 2024, he shone in Class A Strong with a 2.13 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 84.2 innings. In his five seasons in minor leagues, he has pitched 308.1 innings, with a record of 16-7, a 2.95 ERA, and 286 strikeouts, representing an average of 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Regarding his incorporation, Guzmán highlighted: “We are very excited about Oscar’s arrival. His performance in minor leagues, especially his command, his change of speed, and the effectiveness of his secondary pitches, will help us a lot”.
With the additions of McKenzie and Rayo, the Cibaeñas Eagles continue to strengthen their pitching staff, which already includes the imported Devin Smeltzer and Nick Burdi. The combination of experience in the Major Leagues and youth with projection points to consolidating a competitive rotation for the next campaign.
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