When MLBbro.com started the vision of covering Black and brown players of Major League Baseball, it was to fill a gaping void left by mainstream media.
The lack of diversity of Black players in MLB has been covered by MLBbro.com and monitored every season including discussions with representatives of MLB.com.
But if Black players overall are a cause for concern just think about the minute number of Black pitchers that are represented?
Back in 2016, USA Today shined a pertinent light on the lack of diversity of Black pitchers.
Look at the numbers at the time.
The percentage of Black players overall stood at eight percent. A number that in 2024 has shown only a slight improvement at 8.3 percent.
Out of the eight percent represented at the time, there were only 14 Black pitchers out of the 449 throughout MLB.
Of those 14 pitchers, there were seven starting pitchers and seven relievers.
Why is there a dearth of black pitchers in MLB?
It was brought up to three MLBbros from different levels of baseball. A front office executive, a manager and a player weighed in with different perspectives from financial to even family influence.
Dave Stewart (Then Arizona Diamondbacks general manager):
“When you think about it, the black pitchers have almost become extinct,” then Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart told USA Today. “There are a lot of reasons, I don’t know if any of them are valid, but it seems like a lot of teams take Black pitchers and convert them into infielders or outfielders. I know it happened a lot in the past, so maybe it’s still happening.”
Dusty Baker (Then Washington Nationals manager, now Special Adviser for the San Francisco Giants):
“The reason you don’t see a Black player converted into being a pitcher is because teams don’t have money invested in them,” Baker told USA Today. “Most of the white pitchers being converted, you have money invested in them.”
Chris Archer (Former ace pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays):
“People don’t really view athleticism transcending onto the pitchers’ mound, as you would an outfielder or shortstop,” he said. “You don’t think of it as an athletic thing to do. It’s really the last choice of the parents.”
That is why these pitchers are carrying a bigger responsibility than most realize. The pitching mound is one of the more glamorous positions in the sport, and these MLBbros are carrying the torch for the MLBbros of the future.
Black Pitchers On The Rise
Jack Flaherty (Detroit Tigers):
It’s a coincidence that Flaherty, as of this writing, is pitching in Detroit against his old team, the St. Louis Cardinals. The game started out okay for him to say the least. He faced six batters, and he sat them all down with strikeout stories to tell.
In his first start against his former team, Jack Flaherty has struck out SIX in a row to start the game! 👀 pic.twitter.com/oRxbDcBYm6
Before joining the Tigers this season, Flaherty had an ERA of 3.58 with 706 strikeouts spread out over seven seasons in St. Louis. During that time, he kept his ears open for veteran leadership while practicing a strong work ethic. Now Black Jack is bringing that influence to Motown to influence the next generation of pitchers even though he’s still in his 20s.
“The adjustments that you have to make in the game,” Flaherty told MLBbro.com. “What you did to get here is great, and you hold onto those things, but you also got to be able to make adjustments. For pitchers, it’s start to start, really pitch to pitch, game to game, year to year.”
“It’s constantly understanding and evolving in that what you do is what you do, and that allowed you to get there, and then there are always a couple things you make adjustments to. And then just continue to put the work in.”
Right now, Flaherty sports a 4.91 ERA with 36 strikeouts in four starts. If things continue against the Cardinals, look for the K’s to increase and the ERA to decrease.
Hunter Greene (Cincinnati Reds):
This MLBbro pitcher is an acquired taste when it comes to baseball fans who are not paying attention. The third-year pitcher has the potential to be the undisputed ace in Cincinnati’s rotation. Something that was shown in real life over the weekend on April 27.
His second consecutive start pitching into late innings (at least seven) finishing the outing with six strikeouts while giving up only one hit.
MLBbro.com reporter Malik Wright has been monitoring the MLBbro’s progress up to the pitching masterclass in a recent Live on Tape at the ballpark segment.
Keys To Hunter Greene Success: “Tempo, Rhythym, Feeling Athletic and Loose”@_teammill is Live at the Ballpark with the melanated mound marauder pic.twitter.com/4i20ofUjda
While our MLBbro’s critics are coming from potential box score watchers looking at his ERA, the improvements are there due to his advanced statistics. But for the eye test, Greene as of late is getting better and better.
He is forcing more ground balls in 2024.
He is walking fewer batters this season.
His home run rate has dropped to one-third of what it was in past seasons.
All told if these things improve, his run allowed rate will drop which will keep the critics off his back.
MLBbro.com writer basically sums this all up in this bold headline. Hunter stopped being cute and started producing filthy stuff.
The Cleveland Guardians practiced patience with this MLBbro the way the Cincinnati Reds should with Hunter Greene. After dealing with a severe muscle strain that affected his pitching elbow, McKenzie was limited to only four starts last season.
This was after Triston burst into the spotlight as not only one of the most exciting MLBbro starters in the American League but overall, with an 11-11 record and an absurd 2.96 ERA, 190 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.95 in 191 innings.
This season our MLBbro has two wicked pitches that shows that his control is solid. Watch the video showing both pitches and their locations.
Right now, Triston McKenzie has a current record of 2-2 even though his ERA is holding at 4.91 with a WHIP of 1.68, he is currently pitching with a torn ligament trying the rehab route instead of Tommy John surgery.
Josiah Gray (Washington Nationals):
This article would not be complete without the addition of this MLBbro pitching sensation. He made his first All-Star game appearance and is well on his way to a strong career.
However now Gray is on the IL with a muscle strain that has affected his production mightily. Hopefully the injury stays within the muscle and away from the ligament which could keep our MLBbro out for much longer.
The Up and comers MLBbro.com has an eye on:
MLBbro.com went deep into the early progress of Jordan Hicks, Xzavion Curry and Simeon Woods Ricardson, more pitchers that believe their time is now.
On Monday as the first full month of the 2024 season nears closing, MLB.com released another rendition of its weekly power rankings. Naturally, the rankings are opinionated and will change throughout the year based on the source, but it’s always fun to take a deep dive into these things.
5. New York Yankees
Over their last seven games, Yankees captain Aaron Judge has finally given the Bronx faithful a glimpse of what they hope will be a fruitful partnership with outfielder Juan Soto. J
Judge has begun to heat up at the plate, slashing .294/.424/.667 with three home runs, seven RBI and five walks for New York.
Marcus Stroman has continued to be strong for the Yankees, posting a 2-1 record with a 3.69 ERA and an impressive 58.4 percent ground ball rate.
4. Cleveland Guardians
Josh Naylor and the Guardians have been one of the best teams in the American League thus far, and young Josh Naylor has been a major contributor to their success on offense. A mainstay at the heart of their lineup, the lefty has provided power for the Guardians’ cleanup spot while also sporting an impressive K percentage of 11.4 percent.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have never been a stranger to headlines, and despite causing a different type of hysteria the on-court product has been as advertised. The Dodgers have built the largest early lead of any division leader, and Mookie Betts has been so good at the plate it sometimes slips your mind that he is playing a new position full-time.
Betts currently has an OPS+ of 162 and looks like an early front-runner for National League MVP.
2. Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore came into this season with tremendous expectations, and while they’re still waiting for their star prospect to shine, Cedric Mullins and the big-league club have continued to show why they are one of the most exciting young teams in all of baseball.
Mullins is still looking to find his groove at the plate, but has already turned in an early contender for Catch of the Year. Perhaps this is the year Mullins can finally snag his first Gold Glove Award.
1. Atlanta Braves
Atlanta has come back from a disappointing divisional round loss last season to once again position themselves as frontrunners for the National League Pennant. The Braves’ offseason additions to the pitching staff have come in handy with the loss of their ace Spenser Strider for the season, but once again it’s their offense that is making the most noise.
Michael Harris II and the Braves offense once again lead all of MLB in run differential, and Harris himself is slashing .315/.351/.823 headed into Monday night, a complete 180 from the slow start he had last season.
With postseason hopes fading with each passing day, the Cleveland Guardians may have to start their transition plans to figuring out their inventory of talent in preparation for next season. That change in mission statement is probably the reason why MLBbro Triston McKenzie aka “Dr. Sticks” will be returning to the mound on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Our MLBbro has been besieged with injuries to his throwing arm all season long. He missed the first two months of the season with a serious muscle strain in his right shoulder. In his first start of the season, McKenzie came out with a dominating performance against the Los Angeles Angels with 10 strikeouts.
Soon after, McKenzie left the rotation again with right muscle strain in his shoulder. For the last two games of rehab assignments at Double A-Akron and Triple-A Columbus, there seems to be no setbacks and our MLBbro is scheduled to take the mound at Progressive Field.
In those rehab starts, McKenzie was 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA and seven strikeouts in 6 ⅔ innings.
First start at Double-A Akron:
Our MLBbro was solid in his first rehab session allowing only one run, one hit and a walk. Throw in four strikeouts in only 44 pitches, McKenzie moved up to his next assignment in Columbus.
#Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie looked sharp tonight in his rehab start for Akron allowing just one run on one hit while striking out four over three innings of work. McKenzie topped out at 93 mph.
The second rehab start was not as successful as his first, giving up three runs over 3 ⅔ innings. Our MLBbro served up 62 pitches (37 strikes) but gave up two home runs…
Triston McKenzie goes 3.2IP, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, walks 1, and strikes out 2. Allowed 2 homers.
Got plenty of whiffs on his heater at 91-94. Savant has one of those on a cutter saying he threw 9 of those. That would be new or a mis-tracked pitch. pic.twitter.com/c1uvyDfoCk
— Justin L. (BlueSky – jlbaseball.bsky.social) (@JL_Baseball) September 19, 2023
McKenzie Good To Go For 2024
The positive part of this situation is that Triston McKenzie and the franchise were on the same page throughout the rehab process. No one should be surprised that our MLBbro is getting some action on the mound at the end of the season. According to manager Terry Francona, this was the plan as far back as July…
“He feels real good about the direction he wants to go,” manager Terry Francona said in July before a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. “I guess you call it the conservative way, which is nonsurgical.”
“It would give him a chance to pitch for us this year,” Francona said. “I think that’s important. And I think he thinks that. I think everybody thinks that’s important. So he doesn’t go into the offseason not knowing.”
McKenzie established himself in Cleveland’s future plans with a 11-11 record and a 2.96 ERA in 30 starts last season. He’s already considered one of the core starters next season with the potential to be the ace of the staff, something that MLBbro.com knew a while ago…
Look for this appearance Sunday to serve as another rehab assignment for Triston McKenzie. Assessing injuries that could have long term effects for a pitcher, particularly one on the throwing arm is always challenging.
The Guardians cannot afford to attach McKenzie’s future to Tommy John surgery. Terry Francona and the front office is looking at this as an information gathering type of scenario.
“As much as we want to win, you can’t not care about them and do this job,” Francona said. “It just doesn’t work that way. And so you immediately kind of change into a different mode – ‘OK what’s best for him?’ And since none of us really know that, that’s why we encourage getting the multiple opinions.”
Here’s hoping that the Cleveland fanbase get this “Dr. Sticks” back on the mound next year…
The Cleveland Guardians came into the season looking to build on a 2022 season that saw several MLBbros make major contributions to their American League Central division crown.
Triston McKenzie has established himself as one of the best young arms in the game, while first baseman Josh Naylor became a mainstay in the heart of their lineup. The front office added free agent Josh Bell in free agency to provide more offense to a ball club that looked poised to repeat in a winnable division.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned to begin the season.
Injury Delays McKenzie Debut
The excitement surrounding Triston coming off a spectacular 2022 campaign was put on hold when he was pulled after one inning of the Guardians final Spring Training game and eventually diagnosed with a strained shoulder.
McKenzie was coming off a season where he posted a career best 2.96 ERA and 190 strikeouts to go with a 0.95 WHIP. The injury left Cleveland shorthanded and their record early on reflected it.
Triston was sidelined until June 3, when he was reinstated by Cleveland and slated to start against division rival Minnesota. McKenzie was electric in his first start back, giving up only one hit while striking out 10 in five innings. His second start didn’t go as well, as Dusty Baker’s Astros were able to scatter seven hits and five runs over the five innings he pitched.
McKenzie will need time to regain the form we saw him to close last year’s season, but his return should once again form a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of Cleveland’s rotation with former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber.
Bell and Naylor Starting to Heat Up
While the return of McKenzie was a much-needed shot in the arm to the Guardians rotation, switch hitting slugger Josh Bell finally making his presence felt in Cleveland’s lineup couldn’t have come at a better time.
Over his last seven games Josh is slashing .308/.379/.692 with three homers and six RBI for the Guardians, who are 5-2 in that span. Bell was well aware of the expectations that came with the two year, $33 million deal he signed with the notorious thrifty club this offseason, but despite the expectations placed on his personal achievements, he remained focused on winning above all.
“Obviously, it would be awesome if I were hitting .450 with 30 homers right now,” said Bell after the Guardians 5-0 victory Sunday. “But for the most part. Once you sign a contract like that and start meeting the guys in spring training and develop that camaraderie, the most important thing is winning.”
Bell hasn’t been the only Josh doing damage in Cleveland’s lineup as of late, as fellow MLBbro Josh Naylor has been on fire. Naylor is slashing .436/.476/.618 with 24 hits and 16 RBI over his last 15 games.
“When the results are there, you just ride the wave,” said Bell. “That’s what (Josh) Naylor has been doing. He’s doing the same routine every day in the batting cage, the same with Ramirez.”
Cleveland has won nine of their last 15 ballgames, and even after such a slow start the Guardians are in position to once again take over the American League Central. If they have any hopes of repeating as division champions, their fifth crown in seven years, these three bros will be central to that push.
Melanated Mound Marauder Triston “Dr. Sticks” McKenzie is back from arm injury and throwing pellets again for the Cleveland Guardians. He fanned 10 over five shutout innings in his season debut for Cleveland who is chasing AL Central leader Minnesota by 3.5 games as of June 7. Rachel Hill has the low down on the melanated mound marauder.
Recent Comments