McKenzie looks to bounce back
Pitcher from Royal Palm Beach sets sights on Guardians role Howard tired of ‘going to playoffs’ and losing
ROYAL PALM BEACH – Triston McKenzie is spending the offseason proving his nickname “Sticks” isn’t a reflection of the young pitcher being injury-prone.
McKenzie’s 2023 campaign, a season in which he made just four starts on the mound for the Cleveland Guardians,
MIAMI GARDENS — Xavien Howard is tired of the losing. He’s tired of all the flash and no substance when stakes are the highest.
He’s tired of the season ending either after one playoff game, or no playoffs at all.
“I’m tired of just going to the playoffs and not winning,” the Miami Dolphins cornerback said. “I’ve been here eight years, third time going to the playoffs. I want to win them games, you
“I’ve been here eight years, third time going to the playoffs. I want to win them games, you know?”
Xavien Howard seemed like it was marred by bad luck from the beginning.
After suffering a right teres major strain in his shoulder during spring training, Sticks’ return several months later was short-lived.
A right elbow strain sent him right back to the dugout – not in the way he wanted.
And yet, while the numbers weren’t quite where he might have wanted them to be in the pair of starts he tallied at the know?”
Howard, 30, is the Dolphins longest tenured player but his production has dropped significantly the last two years, mainly due to injuries. He’s signed through 2026 with a $25.9 million cap number. He was inactive for five games this season, including Miami’s 26-7 loss Saturday at Kansas City in the AFC Wild Card game, the coldest game in Dolphins’ history.
That loss extended the Dolphins streak without a playoff win 23 years, the longest among all teams in the four major sports.
Now, he’s one of a large number of players whose future with the team is uncertain.
“My eight years here, I made the best of it,”
See DOLPHINS, Page 3B end of the regular season, it was a necessary step in cementing his completed recovery.
“Being able to finish up the year healthy and being able to go into the offseason with the mindset of, I’m just getting ready for next year, was definitely calming for me,” McKenzie said. “I feel good to go now.”
Now, with a new one-year, $1.6 mil