MacKenzie Gore

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MacKenzie Evan Gore

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Biographical Information[edit]

MacKenzie Gore was considered the top left-handed pitcher available before the 2017 amateur draft and was selected third overall by the San Diego Padres. He had been playing high school baseball in his hometown of Whiteville, NC, and was the third straight high school player taken in the draft, the first time this had happened since 1990. he put up dazzling numbers in his senior season, including an ERA of 0.19 and 158 strikeouts (against 5 walks) in 74 1/3 innings while finishing 11-0, capping a high school career in which he gave up a grand total of 16 earned runs in four years. He was named the Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year after the season, an award open to all high school athletes in the country. The only other baseball player to have previously won the prestigious award had been Dylan Bundy, in 2011. He was pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, alongside sprinter Sydney McLaughlin, who won the counterpart female award. He had earlier won the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year award reserved for baseball players.

He signed with the Padres less than two weeks after being drafted, for a bonus of $6.7 million. He was slated to begin his professional career with the AZL Padres.

He was named to the roster of the National League team for the 2019 Futures Game. He had an outstandong season that year, going a combined 9-2, 1.69 in 20 starts between Class A and AA. There was speculation over the next two seasons that he would soon make his major league debut, but the Padres decided not to use him during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as they wanted him to see more minor league action before promoting him, and the minor leagues were shut down that year, then he underperformed and was beset by injuries in 2021, making just 12 starts and going 1-3, 3.93 with four different teams, including some rehabilitation assignments. He also was unimpressive in the Arizona Fall League after the season. Still, he showed up in spring training in 2022] pitching great and after just one excellent start in AAA with the El Paso Chihuahuas, he was tabbed to make his major league debut on April 15th, starting against the Atlanta Braves. He again pitched well, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in 5 1/3 innings but was not involved in the decision.

Gore lists Madison Bumgarner as his idol growing up; fittingly he is another lefty from North Carolina who was also a top draft pick.

Further Reading[edit]

  • AJ Cassavell: "Padres nab Gore's elite left arm with 3rd pick", mlb.com, June 13, 2017. [1]
  • AJ Cassavell: "Padres' Draft pick Gore earns top HS honor: No. 3 overall pick named Male Athlete of the Year", mlb.com, July 12, 2017. [2]
  • AJ Cassavell: "Worth the wait: Gore delivers on hype in MLB debut", mlb.com, April 16, 2022. [3]

Related Sites[edit]

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