| IP | 166.1 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.9 |
| WHIP | 1.42 |
| BB/9 | 3.52 |
| SO/9 | 9.79 |
- Full name MacKenzie Evan Gore
- Born 02/24/1999 in Wilmington, NC
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 192 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Whiteville
- Debut 04/15/2022
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Drafted in the 1st round (3rd overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2017 (signed for $6,700,000).
View Draft Report
Strikethrowing lefthanders are a hot commodity, and they're even more valuable when they have velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball. Gore checks all those boxes and more. He's an elite athlete on the mound, where he employs a very high kick and long stride off the rubber. He gets deep extension over his front side with his torso consistently landing over his front knee. As Gore grew taller and stronger entering the spring of his senior year, his stuff took a jump. He pitches at 89-93 and can hit 95 or 96 mph with his fastball, showing the ability to get sink on the pitch or cut it in toward righthanded batters or run it away from them. He throws two distinct breaking balls. Gore's curveball shows plus potential with tight 1-to-7 snap and mid 70s velocity. His slider is also a weapon with more horizontal tilt and more firm velocity, reaching into the low 80s. He flashes feel for his low 80s changeup, which projects as an above-average to plus offering. Gore repeats his unorthodox mechanics well and shows elite control for a high school pitcher. As he gains strength, Gore will look to add stability to his lower half. His mechanics can sometimes give him difficulty getting on top of his curveball, an issue he'll aim to correct with reps in the low minors. Some evaluators believe Gore is the top high school pitching prospect in the class due to his command of a well-rounded arsenal of pitches.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: The top pitching prospect in the game heading into 2020, Gore has seen his stock fall as far as anyone’s since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. His mechanics fell out of sync at the alternate training site in 2020 and he looked like a shell of himself in 2021 at Triple-A El Paso, where he posted a 5.85 ERA in six starts before being demoted to extended spring training. Gore spent two months at the Padres’ complex in Peoria, Ariz. addressing his mechanical deficiencies and finished the season on an upswing, but he was still hit and miss in the Arizona Fall League with a 6.35 ERA in three starts.
Scouting Report: A plus fastball has always allowed Gore’s secondaries to play up. Without that pitch in prime shape, his game fell apart. His arm was late, his elbow was dipping below his shoulder upon release, his velocity was down and his secondaries—a mid-80s slider, a 1-to-7 curveball and a sinking changeup, all of which have flashed plus—backed up. Gore resurfaced in mid August with the athleticism and quickness back in his signature leg kick and quieted some of the upper body movement in his windup. The result was his fastball again sitting in the mid 90s and touching 98, which in turn helped his secondaries. Gore’s command remains inconsistent and he still battles his mechanics at times, but his misses off the plate were much smaller after he returned.
The Future: The Padres still believe Gore is a potential front-of-the-rotation starter, but he’ll have to improve his command to approach that ceiling. He was added to the 40-man roster in November and is in position to make his big league debut in 2022.
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Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Gore led tiny Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships in four years and won BA’s High School Player of the Year award in 2017. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for a franchise-record $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore’s first full season was interrupted by recurring blisters that sent him to the injured list three times, but he flourished with full health in 2019. Gore posted the lowest ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83) of any pitcher in the minors who threw at least 100 innings despite spending the year at hitter-friendly high Class A Lake Elsinore and Double-A Amarillo, and he entered 2020 considered arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball. Gore looked sharp in spring training, but after the coronavirus pandemic shut camps down, he arrived at summer camp in July with his delivery out of sync. He spent the season at the alternate training site smoothing that out and improved toward the end of the year.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore is a tall, lanky lefthander whose elite athleticism is the foundation of his success. His delivery features a lot of moving parts, including a high leg kick where he brings his knee nearly to his collarbone, hands raised high above his head and a slight turn away from the batter, but he generally has the strength and body control to repeat his mechanics. Gore explodes out of his delivery with tremendous extension that helps his stuff play up. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and sits at 93-94. The pitch gets on hitters faster than they expect, resulting in a lot of late swings and misses in the strike zone. Gore’s 83-87 mph slider with tight spin and late break is another plus pitch he can locate to both sides of the plate, but there are days his 76-79 mph curveball with late, 1-to-7 snap is his better breaking ball. He rarely has a feel for both of them in the same game and often has to pick one. Gore’s 79-83 mph changeup features late sink at the bottom of the zone and is another plus pitch the few times he throws it. Gore throws everything for strikes with plus control when he’s right, but his delivery fell out of rhythm over the summer. Different observers alternately saw problems with his direction to the plate, his upper and lower body being disconnected and inconsistent timing with his arm stroke and release point. The result was a velocity drop into the low 90s and sharply reduced command. Gore worked through the summer to get back in sync and began looking more like his best self by the end of the season. He still is working to get all four of his pitches working at the same time.
THE FUTURE: Gore’s ability to throw four quality pitches for strikes gives him front-of-the-rotation potential, but he’s going to have to maintain his high-maintenance delivery. The Padres plan to take it slow and start him back at Double-A in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Gore led Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships in four years and went 11-0, 0.19 with 158 strikeouts and five walks in 74.1 innings to win BA's High School Player of the Year award as a senior. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore's first full season was limited to 16 starts by blisters, but his true ability came out with full health in 2019. He posted a 1.02 ERA at high Class A Lake Elsinore, the lowest ERA by a starter with at least 70 innings in California League history, and earned an invitation to the Futures Game before a late-season promotion to Double-A Amarillo. Among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings in 2019, Gore led the minors in ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83).
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore's supreme athleticism sets him apart from other pitchers. He brings his knee nearly to his chin out of the windup during a sky-high leg kick, then explodes down and out over the mound to generate tremendous reach and extension. Gore's fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and gets on hitters quickly because of his nearly seven feet of extension. The result is late, confused swings from batters who think they have his fastball timed up, only to have the ball nearly in the catcher's mitt by the time they swing. Gore's slider and curveball are each swing-and-miss weapons at their best, but they are rarely good together and alternate as his better breaking ball depending on the day. His slider comes at hitters from 83-87 mph with tight spin and late break, and he locates it to both sides of the plate to make it a plus offering. His 76-79 mph curveball also flashes plus with tight 1-to-7 snap, though it is less consistent than his slider. Gore's changeup is his most consistent secondary at 79-83 mph with sink at the bottom of the zone, but he doesn't use it very often. It's still a plus pitch when he does. Gore is a superb athlete who repeats his complicated delivery and has plus control. He is a fearless competitor who works quickly, attacks hitters and has an unshakable inner confidence. Gore's only negative is he struggles holding runners. His pickoff move lacks deception, and at times he rushes through his delivery and loses command when opponents run on him.
THE FUTURE: Gore has the rare mix of stuff, athleticism, poise and control to be a true No. 1 starter. Few think he'll be worse than a No. 3. -
Track Record: Gore allowed just 16 earned runs in four years at Whiteville (N.C.) High and won BA's High School Player of the Year award in 2017. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for $6.7 million, the largest draft bonus in franchise history. Gore received rave reviews in his first spring training, but blister issues sent him to the disabled list twice at low Class A Fort Wayne and led to an underwhelming 2018 season. After Gore's blisters returned a third time, the Padres shut him down in late August.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Gore checks every box as a lean, premium athlete with a loose arm, sky-high leg kick and four pitches that flash plus. His fastball sits 93-94 mph, touches 96, and gets on hitters quickly with his long extension. Gore's blisters sapped the command of his heater, but they most seriously affected his breaking balls. At their best his curveball sits 77-80 mph with sharp 1-to-7 snap and his slider works 84-86 mph with tight, late break, but his inability to grip them resulted in both playing down to average with inconsistent velocity and location. His upper 80s changeup is his fourth pitch but still shows plus with sink at the bottom of the zone.
The Future: Gore's recurring blisters prevented him from pitching his best in his full-season debut. He'll try to show he's past them at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2019. -
Gore posted jaw-dropping numbers throughout his prep career, winning BA's High School Player of the Year award in 2017 after he went 11-0, 0.19 with 158 strikeouts and five walks in 74.1 innings for Whiteville (N.C.) High. Many clubs considered Gore the top prospect in the 2017 draft, even ahead of lauded righthander Hunter Greene, and the Padres took him with the No. 3 overall pick and signed him for $6.7 million to forgo a commitment to East Carolina. An elite athlete with a sky-high leg kick in his delivery, Gore blends his supreme athleticism with an advanced four-pitch arsenal and top-notch competitive makeup. His fastball operates 92-95 mph, but plays up thanks to plus command and gets on hitters quickly with good extension out of his delivery. His mid-70s curveball with tight 1-to-7 snap is another plus pitch, and his tumbling 82-85 mph swing-and-miss changeup was even better than expected after signing. His low-80s short slider gives him another potential plus offering. With four pitches, command and deception, many evaluators who saw Gore in his pro debut called him one of the best pitching prospects in 30-year history of the Rookie-level Arizona League. Gore shares physical similarities with Cole Hamels at the same age, with the potential stuff and control to match. He will head to low Class A Fort Wayne in 2018 as he tries to reach his top-of-the-rotation potential.
Draft Prospects
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Strikethrowing lefthanders are a hot commodity, and they're even more valuable when they have velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball. Gore checks all those boxes and more. He's an elite athlete on the mound, where he employs a very high kick and long stride off the rubber. He gets deep extension over his front side with his torso consistently landing over his front knee. As Gore grew taller and stronger entering the spring of his senior year, his stuff took a jump. He pitches at 89-93 and can hit 95 or 96 mph with his fastball, showing the ability to get sink on the pitch or cut it in toward righthanded batters or run it away from them. He throws two distinct breaking balls. Gore's curveball shows plus potential with tight 1-to-7 snap and mid 70s velocity. His slider is also a weapon with more horizontal tilt and more firm velocity, reaching into the low 80s. He flashes feel for his low 80s changeup, which projects as an above-average to plus offering. Gore repeats his unorthodox mechanics well and shows elite control for a high school pitcher. As he gains strength, Gore will look to add stability to his lower half. His mechanics can sometimes give him difficulty getting on top of his curveball, an issue he'll aim to correct with reps in the low minors. Some evaluators believe Gore is the top high school pitching prospect in the class due to his command of a well-rounded arsenal of pitches.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Had he logged enough innings to qualify, Gore’s 1.02 ERA would have been the lowest by a Cal League starter ever, beating Bill Wegman’s 1.30 ERA for Stockton in 1983. Gore led the league in strikeout rate (12.5 per nine innings), opponent average (.137) and WHIP (0.71) when he was promoted to Double-A in July. Gore’s 92-96 mph fastball got on batters quickly with his long extension, resulting in late, confused swings. His upper-70s curveball and mid-80s slider alternated as his best breaking pitch but each flashed plus, and he rarely needed his plus changeup. Gore’s plus control and aggressive demeanor tied it together, earning him a potential No. 1 starter projection from evaluators. "There was a lot of confidence and aggressiveness in the zone from the really high-level stuff that he has,” Rancho Cucamonga manager Mark Kertenian said. "He did not back off one single pitch against us. We felt like he could pitch in the big leagues this year.” -
Blisters derailed much of Gore's first full pro season. The BA High School Player of the Year in 2017 made just three starts in the first two months and didn't pitch into the fifth inning until July. Even when he was on the mound, he didn't always have his best stuff because of his finger issues. He allowed a hit per inning, but he showed advanced control and kept the ball in the ballpark. Evaluators were impressed with Gore's feel for pitching and his stuff. His plus fastball sat in the low 90s and touched 95. Gore's curveball and slider both are plus at their best. Like many young pitchers, he struggles to spin both consistently on the same night. Some nights he had an impressive slider and on others he has a better curve. His excellent athleticism helps him have above-average command within the strike zone. Gore's season was a little disappointing statistically, but he remains among the highest-ceiling minor league starters because he throws four average or better pitches and owns potentially plus control and command. -
Gore started his career with a significant amount of hype after being selected third overall by the Padres and winning the BA High School Player of the Year. The North Carolina native lived up to the accolades with an outstanding pro debut, earning raves as one of the best pitching prospects in the AZL's 30-year history. Gore dominated AZL hitters, holding batters to a .184 average and striking out 34 in just over 21 innings. The 18-year-old southpaw showed a solid four-pitch mix and extreme athleticism which allows him to repeat what could be a high-maintenance delivery with his high leg kick. Gore has plus command of all of his pitches, notably a sneaky fastball that sits 92-96 mph with good plane. Both the cut-like slider and curveball project as plus pitches, and he has good feel for a changeup that tumbles on batters and causes them to swing through it. "I'll be surprised if he spends a long time in the minor leagues," manager Shaun Cole said. "He's so far advanced than most of the high school guys and even the college guys. He's a good one."
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Control in the San Diego Padres in 2018
- Rated Best Slider in the San Diego Padres in 2018
Scouting Reports
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Track Record: The top pitching prospect in the game heading into 2020, Gore has seen his stock fall as far as anyone’s since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. His mechanics fell out of sync at the alternate training site in 2020 and he looked like a shell of himself in 2021 at Triple-A El Paso, where he posted a 5.85 ERA in six starts before being demoted to extended spring training. Gore spent two months at the Padres’ complex in Peoria, Ariz. addressing his mechanical deficiencies and finished the season on an upswing, but he was still hit and miss in the Arizona Fall League with a 6.35 ERA in three starts.
Scouting Report: A plus fastball has always allowed Gore’s secondaries to play up. Without that pitch in prime shape, his game fell apart. His arm was late, his elbow was dipping below his shoulder upon release, his velocity was down and his secondaries—a mid-80s slider, a 1-to-7 curveball and a sinking changeup, all of which have flashed plus—backed up. Gore resurfaced in mid August with the athleticism and quickness back in his signature leg kick and quieted some of the upper body movement in his windup. The result was his fastball again sitting in the mid 90s and touching 98, which in turn helped his secondaries. Gore’s command remains inconsistent and he still battles his mechanics at times, but his misses off the plate were much smaller after he returned.
The Future: The Padres still believe Gore is a potential front-of-the-rotation starter, but he’ll have to improve his command to approach that ceiling. He was added to the 40-man roster in November and is in position to make his big league debut in 2022.
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Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Gore led tiny Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships in four years and won BA's High School Player of the Year award in 2017. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for a franchise-record $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore's first full season was interrupted by recurring blisters that sent him to the injured list three times, but he flourished with full health in 2019. Gore posted the lowest ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83) of any pitcher in the minors who threw at least 100 innings despite spending the year at hitter-friendly high Class A Lake Elsinore and Double-A Amarillo, and he entered 2020 considered arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball. Gore looked sharp in spring training, but after the coronavirus pandemic shut camps down, he arrived at summer camp in July with his delivery out of sync. He spent the season at the alternate training site smoothing that out and improved toward the end of the year.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore is a tall, lanky lefthander whose elite athleticism is the foundation of his success. His delivery features a lot of moving parts, including a high leg kick where he brings his knee nearly to his collarbone, hands raised high above his head and a slight turn away from the batter, but he generally has the strength and body control to repeat his mechanics. Gore explodes out of his delivery with tremendous extension that helps his stuff play up. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and sits at 93-94. The pitch gets on hitters faster than they expect, resulting in a lot of late swings and misses in the strike zone. Gore's 83-87 mph slider with tight spin and late break is another plus pitch he can locate to both sides of the plate, but there are days his 76-79 mph curveball with late, 1-to-7 snap is his better breaking ball. He rarely has a feel for both of them in the same game and often has to pick one. Gore's 79-83 mph changeup features late sink at the bottom of the zone and is another plus pitch the few times he throws it. Gore throws everything for strikes with plus control when he's right, but his delivery fell out of rhythm over the summer. Different observers alternately saw problems with his direction to the plate, his upper and lower body being disconnected and inconsistent timing with his arm stroke and release point. The result was a velocity drop into the low 90s and sharply reduced command. Gore worked through the summer to get back in sync and began looking more like his best self by the end of the season. He still is working to get all four of his pitches working at the same time.
THE FUTURE: Gore's ability to throw four quality pitches for strikes gives him front-of-the-rotation potential, but he's going to have to maintain his high-maintenance delivery. The Padres plan to take it slow and start him back at Double-A in 2021. -
Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Gore led tiny Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships in four years and won BA’s High School Player of the Year award in 2017. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for a franchise-record $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore’s first full season was interrupted by recurring blisters that sent him to the injured list three times, but he flourished with full health in 2019. Gore posted the lowest ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83) of any pitcher in the minors who threw at least 100 innings despite spending the year at hitter-friendly high Class A Lake Elsinore and Double-A Amarillo, and he entered 2020 considered arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball. Gore looked sharp in spring training, but after the coronavirus pandemic shut camps down, he arrived at summer camp in July with his delivery out of sync. He spent the season at the alternate training site smoothing that out and improved toward the end of the year.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore is a tall, lanky lefthander whose elite athleticism is the foundation of his success. His delivery features a lot of moving parts, including a high leg kick where he brings his knee nearly to his collarbone, hands raised high above his head and a slight turn away from the batter, but he generally has the strength and body control to repeat his mechanics. Gore explodes out of his delivery with tremendous extension that helps his stuff play up. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and sits at 93-94. The pitch gets on hitters faster than they expect, resulting in a lot of late swings and misses in the strike zone. Gore’s 83-87 mph slider with tight spin and late break is another plus pitch he can locate to both sides of the plate, but there are days his 76-79 mph curveball with late, 1-to-7 snap is his better breaking ball. He rarely has a feel for both of them in the same game and often has to pick one. Gore’s 79-83 mph changeup features late sink at the bottom of the zone and is another plus pitch the few times he throws it. Gore throws everything for strikes with plus control when he’s right, but his delivery fell out of rhythm over the summer. Different observers alternately saw problems with his direction to the plate, his upper and lower body being disconnected and inconsistent timing with his arm stroke and release point. The result was a velocity drop into the low 90s and sharply reduced command. Gore worked through the summer to get back in sync and began looking more like his best self by the end of the season. He still is working to get all four of his pitches working at the same time.
THE FUTURE: Gore’s ability to throw four quality pitches for strikes gives him front-of-the-rotation potential, but he’s going to have to maintain his high-maintenance delivery. The Padres plan to take it slow and start him back at Double-A in 2021. -
Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Gore led tiny Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships in four years and won BA’s High School Player of the Year award in 2017. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for a franchise-record $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore’s first full season was interrupted by recurring blisters that sent him to the injured list three times, but he flourished with full health in 2019. Gore posted the lowest ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83) of any pitcher in the minors who threw at least 100 innings despite spending the year at hitter-friendly high Class A Lake Elsinore and Double-A Amarillo, and he entered 2020 considered arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball. Gore looked sharp in spring training, but after the coronavirus pandemic shut camps down, he arrived at summer camp in July with his delivery out of sync. He spent the season at the alternate training site smoothing that out and improved toward the end of the year.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore is a tall, lanky lefthander whose elite athleticism is the foundation of his success. His delivery features a lot of moving parts, including a high leg kick where he brings his knee nearly to his collarbone, hands raised high above his head and a slight turn away from the batter, but he generally has the strength and body control to repeat his mechanics. Gore explodes out of his delivery with tremendous extension that helps his stuff play up. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and sits at 93-94. The pitch gets on hitters faster than they expect, resulting in a lot of late swings and misses in the strike zone. Gore’s 83-87 mph slider with tight spin and late break is another plus pitch he can locate to both sides of the plate, but there are days his 76-79 mph curveball with late, 1-to-7 snap is his better breaking ball. He rarely has a feel for both of them in the same game and often has to pick one. Gore’s 79-83 mph changeup features late sink at the bottom of the zone and is another plus pitch the few times he throws it. Gore throws everything for strikes with plus control when he’s right, but his delivery fell out of rhythm over the summer. Different observers alternately saw problems with his direction to the plate, his upper and lower body being disconnected and inconsistent timing with his arm stroke and release point. The result was a velocity drop into the low 90s and sharply reduced command. Gore worked through the summer to get back in sync and began looking more like his best self by the end of the season. He still is working to get all four of his pitches working at the same time.
THE FUTURE: Gore’s ability to throw four quality pitches for strikes gives him front-of-the-rotation potential, but he’s going to have to maintain his high-maintenance delivery. The Padres plan to take it slow and start him back at Double-A in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Gore led Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships and went 11-0, 0.19 as a senior with 158 strikeouts and five walks in 74.1 innings to win BA’s High School Player of the Year award. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore’s first full season was limited to 16 starts by blisters, but his full ability came out with full health in 2019. He posted a 1.02 ERA at high Class A Lake Elsinore, the lowest ERA by a starter with at least 70 innings in California League history, and earned an invitation to the Futures Game before a late-season promotion to Double-A Amarillo. Among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings in 2019, Gore led the minors in ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83).
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore’s supreme athleticism sets him apart from other pitchers. He brings his knee nearly to his chin out of the windup during a sky-high leg kick, then explodes down and out over the mound to generate tremendous reach and extension. Gore’s fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and gets on hitters quickly because of his nearly seven feet of extension. The result is late, confused swings from batters who think they have his fastball timed up, only to have the ball nearly in the catcher’s mitt by the time they swing. Gore’s slider and curveball are each swing-and-miss weapons at their best, but they are rarely good together and alternate as his better breaking ball depending on the day. His slider comes at hitters from 83-87 mph with tight spin and late break, and he locates it to both sides of the plate to make it a plus offering. His 76-79 mph curveball also flashes plus with tight 1-to-7 snap, though it is less consistent than his slider. Gore’s changeup is his most consistent secondary at 79-83 mph with sink at the bottom of the zone, but he doesn’t use it very often. It’s still a plus pitch when he does. Gore is a superb athlete who repeats his complicated delivery and has plus control. He is a fearless competitor who works quickly, attacks hitters and has an unshakable inner confidence. Gore’s only negative is he struggles holding runners. His pickoff move lacks deception, and at times he rushes through his delivery and loses command when opponents run on him.
THE FUTURE: Gore has the rare mix of stuff, athleticism, poise and control to be a true No. 1 starter. Few think he’ll be worse than a No. 3. SCOUTING GRADES Fastball: 60. SL: 60. CHG: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 60 BA GRADE 70 Risk: High -
TRACK RECORD: Gore led Whiteville (N.C.) High to three state championships in four years and went 11-0, 0.19 with 158 strikeouts and five walks in 74.1 innings to win BA's High School Player of the Year award as a senior. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for $6.7 million to forgo an East Carolina commitment. Gore's first full season was limited to 16 starts by blisters, but his true ability came out with full health in 2019. He posted a 1.02 ERA at high Class A Lake Elsinore, the lowest ERA by a starter with at least 70 innings in California League history, and earned an invitation to the Futures Game before a late-season promotion to Double-A Amarillo. Among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings in 2019, Gore led the minors in ERA (1.69) and WHIP (0.83).
SCOUTING REPORT: Gore's supreme athleticism sets him apart from other pitchers. He brings his knee nearly to his chin out of the windup during a sky-high leg kick, then explodes down and out over the mound to generate tremendous reach and extension. Gore's fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and gets on hitters quickly because of his nearly seven feet of extension. The result is late, confused swings from batters who think they have his fastball timed up, only to have the ball nearly in the catcher's mitt by the time they swing. Gore's slider and curveball are each swing-and-miss weapons at their best, but they are rarely good together and alternate as his better breaking ball depending on the day. His slider comes at hitters from 83-87 mph with tight spin and late break, and he locates it to both sides of the plate to make it a plus offering. His 76-79 mph curveball also flashes plus with tight 1-to-7 snap, though it is less consistent than his slider. Gore's changeup is his most consistent secondary at 79-83 mph with sink at the bottom of the zone, but he doesn't use it very often. It's still a plus pitch when he does. Gore is a superb athlete who repeats his complicated delivery and has plus control. He is a fearless competitor who works quickly, attacks hitters and has an unshakable inner confidence. Gore's only negative is he struggles holding runners. His pickoff move lacks deception, and at times he rushes through his delivery and loses command when opponents run on him.
THE FUTURE: Gore has the rare mix of stuff, athleticism, poise and control to be a true No. 1 starter. Few think he'll be worse than a No. 3. -
Track Record: Gore allowed just 16 earned runs in four years at Whiteville (N.C.) High and won BA's High School Player of the Year award in 2017. The Padres drafted him third overall and signed him for $6.7 million, the largest draft bonus in franchise history. Gore received rave reviews in his first spring training, but blister issues sent him to the disabled list twice at low Class A Fort Wayne and led to an underwhelming 2018 season. After Gore's blisters returned a third time, the Padres shut him down in late August.
Scouting Report: When healthy, Gore checks every box as a lean, premium athlete with a loose arm, sky-high leg kick and four pitches that flash plus. His fastball sits 93-94 mph, touches 96, and gets on hitters quickly with his long extension. Gore's blisters sapped the command of his heater, but they most seriously affected his breaking balls. At their best his curveball sits 77-80 mph with sharp 1-to-7 snap and his slider works 84-86 mph with tight, late break, but his inability to grip them resulted in both playing down to average with inconsistent velocity and location. His upper 80s changeup is his fourth pitch but still shows plus with sink at the bottom of the zone.
The Future: Gore's recurring blisters prevented him from pitching his best in his full-season debut. He'll try to show he's past them at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2019. -
Had he logged enough innings to qualify, Gore’s 1.02 ERA would have been the lowest by a Cal League starter ever, beating Bill Wegman’s 1.30 ERA for Stockton in 1983. Gore led the league in strikeout rate (12.5 per nine innings), opponent average (.137) and WHIP (0.71) when he was promoted to Double-A in July. Gore’s 92-96 mph fastball got on batters quickly with his long extension, resulting in late, confused swings. His upper-70s curveball and mid-80s slider alternated as his best breaking pitch but each flashed plus, and he rarely needed his plus changeup. Gore’s plus control and aggressive demeanor tied it together, earning him a potential No. 1 starter projection from evaluators. "There was a lot of confidence and aggressiveness in the zone from the really high-level stuff that he has,” Rancho Cucamonga manager Mark Kertenian said. "He did not back off one single pitch against us. We felt like he could pitch in the big leagues this year.” -
Gore had two separate disabled list stints for blisters on the pad of his left middle finger but he’s made his last eight as scheduled and posted a 2.70 ERA. Gore is sitting 91-95 mph with a plus changeup as before, but the blisters caused both his slider and curveball to play down, closer to average, early in the season. Avoiding a recurrence of the blisters will be key to Gore staying on the mound and sharpening his breaking balls. -
Gore posted jaw-dropping numbers throughout his prep career, winning BA's High School Player of the Year award in 2017 after he went 11-0, 0.19 with 158 strikeouts and five walks in 74.1 innings for Whiteville (N.C.) High. Many clubs considered Gore the top prospect in the 2017 draft, even ahead of lauded righthander Hunter Greene, and the Padres took him with the No. 3 overall pick and signed him for $6.7 million to forgo a commitment to East Carolina. An elite athlete with a sky-high leg kick in his delivery, Gore blends his supreme athleticism with an advanced four-pitch arsenal and top-notch competitive makeup. His fastball operates 92-95 mph, but plays up thanks to plus command and gets on hitters quickly with good extension out of his delivery. His mid-70s curveball with tight 1-to-7 snap is another plus pitch, and his tumbling 82-85 mph swing-and-miss changeup was even better than expected after signing. His low-80s short slider gives him another potential plus offering. With four pitches, command and deception, many evaluators who saw Gore in his pro debut called him one of the best pitching prospects in 30-year history of the Rookie-level Arizona League. Gore shares physical similarities with Cole Hamels at the same age, with the potential stuff and control to match. He will head to low Class A Fort Wayne in 2018 as he tries to reach his top-of-the-rotation potential. -
Track Record: Gore posted jaw-dropping numbers throughout his prep career, winning BA's High School Player of the Year as a senior in 2017 after he went 11-0, 0.19 with 158 strikeouts and five walks in 74.1 innings. Many clubs considered Gore the top prospect in the 2017 draft, and the Padres took him with the No. 3 pick and signed him for $6.7 million. Scouting Report: An elite athlete with a sky-high leg kick in his delivery, Gore blends his supreme athleticism with an advanced four-pitch arsenal and top-notch competitive makeup. His fastball operates 92-95 mph, plays up thanks to plus command and gets on hitters quickly with good extension out of his delivery. His mid-70s curveball with tight 1-to-7 snap is another plus pitch, and his tumbling 82-85 mph swing-and-miss changeup was even better than expected after signing. His low-80s short slider gives him another potential plus offering. Many evaluators who saw Gore in his pro debut called him one of the best pitching prospects in 30-year history of the Rookie-level Arizona League. The Future: Gore shares physical similarities with Cole Hamels, with the potential stuff and control to match. He will head to low Class A Fort Wayne in 2018.
