Once a rising star, McKenzie is now a reclamation project—and Atlanta might be the team to unlock his potential.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians designated former first-round pick Triston McKenzie for assignment Monday prior to their series opener against the Yankees at Progressive Field. McKenzie, 27, was a 2015 first round pick by Cleveland out of Royal Palm Beach Community HS in Florida and a former No. 1 prospect in the organization.

When McKenzie failed to crack Cleveland’s starting rotation this spring, the clock toward an inevitable breakup began. It culminated in the Guardians designating him for assignment Monday. They needed a fresh arm in the bullpen, and even though McKenzie’s arm is just that, they can’t trust him in his current state.