MacKenzie Gore Learns From Trying Season

MacKenzie Gore’s first full year of pro ball ended the way it began—on the disabled list. The 19-year-old lefthander missed time in in April after his first start at low Class A Wayne and again in May because of a bothersome blister on his middle finger, and his season came to an end in August because of an issue with a fingernail.

In between, the Padres were plenty pleased with Gore’s progress, especially the grit he showed in a trying season.

Gore rarely had his A-grade stuff. The DL stints never let him stretch his legs. He never asked off the mound.

Those are all plusses in the development of the No. 3 overall pick from the 2017 draft out of Whiteville (N.C.) High.

“Mac is a very competitive young man,” farm director Sam Geaney said. “He definitely would have liked to have taken the ball more, but I think there are definitely some positives when he was out there.

“I thought he threw the baseball very well at times, punched guys out and didn’t walk guys. He missed some time with his injuries, but all these things are part of each player’s journey.”

Gore’s numbers were significantly off the pace he set in the Rookie-level Arizona League the previous summer, when he posted a 1.27 ERA, struck out 34 in 21.1 innings and limited opposing hitters to a .184 average.

In 2018, his strikeout rate trended down from 14.3 per nine innings to 11.0, his WHIP ticked up from 0.98 to 1.30 and his ERA ballooned to 4.45. Opponents hit .260.

Gore’s highlights included winning his first professional game, striking out 10 in a five-inning start and spinning six shutout innings on July 4.

His fingernail issue—reportedly unrelated to the blister but on the same finger—ended his season in late August.

“I never wanted to make excuses about it,” Gore said. “In my head I wanted to just figure out what was going on. I never wanted to say (my struggles) were because of my blister, but by the last start it was almost to the point where we couldn’t beat our head against the wall and we just had to call it quits.”

Sorting out the blister/fingernail issue is Job No. 1 as Gore prepares for his third year in the organization. His personal checklist is a bit longer after experiencing the roughest stretch of his baseball career.

“I’ve got a lot to work on,” Gore said. “I have to get a lot better. Pitching-wise, I have to get better in every aspect I can—my command, holding runners, everything. I have to get bigger and stronger and come into spring training ready to go.”

FATHER FIGURES

• The Padres added seven prospects to the 40-man roster in November ahead of the Rule 5 draft: righthanders Chris Paddack, Anderson Espinoza, Pedro Avila and Gerardo Reyes, outfielder Edward Olivares, catcher Austin Allen and third baseman Ty France.

• Early offseason roster casualties include two one-time prospects inherited by general manager A.J. Preller. Third baseman Cory Spangenberg and righthander Colin Rea were both released.