MacKenzie Gore
Gore pitching in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game
Washington Nationals – No. 1
Pitcher
Born: (1999-02-24) February 24, 1999 (age 24)
Whiteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 15, 2022, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record11–14
Earned run average4.45
Strikeouts223
Teams

MacKenzie Evan Gore (born February 24, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the San Diego Padres.

Amateur career

Gore attended Whiteville High School in Whiteville, North Carolina. As a junior, he was 12–1 with a 0.08 earned run average (ERA) and 174 strikeouts in 88+1⁄3 innings pitched.[1][2] During the season, he threw a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts.[3] He led Whiteville to the 1-A state championship four years in a row, winning three, with Gore being named MVP of all three victories.[4] During the summer 2016, he played in the Perfect Game Classic at Petco Park.[5] Gore committed to the East Carolina University to play college baseball.[6]

Professional career

San Diego Padres

Minor leagues

Gore was considered one of the top prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[7][8][9] He was drafted by the San Diego Padres with the third overall pick. He signed a rookie contract on June 23, 2017.[10] He spent 2017 with the Arizona League Padres where he pitched in seven games, posting a 0–1 record, a 1.27 ERA, and a 0.98 WHIP in seven starts.[11] He spent 2018 with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, going 2–5 with a 4.45 ERA over 16 starts.[12]

Gore began 2019 with the Lake Elsinore Storm,[13] earning California League All-Star honors.[14] That June, he was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[15] After pitching to a 7–1 record and a 1.02 ERA over 15 starts, striking out 110 batters over 79+1⁄3 innings, he was promoted to the Amarillo Sod Poodles in early July.[16][17][18] He produced a 2–1 record with a 4.15 ERA over 21+2⁄3 innings for Amarillo.[19]

At the start of 2020, MLB Pipeline rated Gore as the best pitching prospect in minor league baseball and the fifth best prospect overall.[20] He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] Gore began the 2021 season with the El Paso Chihuahuas, but was placed on the injured list after compiling a 5.85 ERA over six starts to go along with a lingering blister and various mechanical issues.[22] Gore made three rehab appearances before he was assigned to the San Antonio Missions with whom he threw eight innings in which he walked nine, struck out 16, and gave up three earned runs.[23] He ended the season being ranked the 56th overall best prospect in baseball and the fourth best left handed pitching prospect.[24] He was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League after the season.[25] On November 19, 2021, the Padres added Gore to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[26]

Major leagues

Gore was not part of the Padres Opening Day roster in 2022, starting the season instead with El Paso after the Padres traded for Sean Manaea the weekend before the season started.[27] But Gore was quickly called up when Blake Snell was placed on the IL after his first start.[28] Gore made his MLB debut on April 15, 2022, pitching against the defending champion Atlanta Braves. He threw 5+1⁄3 innings while giving up 3 hits and 2 runs. He recorded his first career strikeout against Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies.[29] He earned his first win on April 20.[30] Gore stayed up with the Padres after Snell and Mike Clevinger rejoined the club, operating out of a temporary six-man rotation that became regular by the end of May.[31][32] The Padres placed Gore on the 15-day injured list on July 26, due to left elbow inflammation.[33]

Washington Nationals

On August 2, 2022, Gore, along with C. J. Abrams, Luke Voit, Robert Hassell, James Wood, and Jarlín Susana were traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Juan Soto and Josh Bell.[34] Gore made rehabilitation starts for the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings,[35] but did not pitch for the Nationals in 2022.

Gore with the Nationals in 2023

In a June 25, 2023 start against the San Diego Padres, Gore struck out the first six batters he faced, setting a Nationals franchise record.[36]

References

  1. ^ "All-Area baseball - Whiteville High's Mackenzie Gore flirts with flawless ERA in an amazing season". Hendersonville Times-News. July 1, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via Wilmington StarNews.
  2. ^ Vaughan Jr, Earl (June 18, 2016). "Whiteville's MacKenzie Gore named region baseball player of the year". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Player of the Week May 1–7: Whiteville's Mackenzie Gore -". varsitynow.blogs.starnewsonline.com. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Biser, Dan (June 13, 2016). "Gore heads list of 2016 All-Columbus baseball players". The News Reporter. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  5. ^ Ricketts, AJ. "Whiteville's Mackenzie Gore pitches in Perfect Game Classic". Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Whiteville's Gore commits to ECU -". varsitynow.blogs.starnewsonline.com. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  7. ^ Smist, John. "MacKenzie Gore named top MLB draft prospects".
  8. ^ "Game Report: MacKenzie Gore Strikes Out 14 - BaseballAmerica.com". April 29, 2017.
  9. ^ "MLB.com 2017 Prospect Watch". Major League Baseball.
  10. ^ "Padres nab Gore's elite left arm with 3rd pick". MLB.com.
  11. ^ "MacKenzie Gore Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  12. ^ "MacKenzie Gore Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  13. ^ "Minors: MacKenzie Gore strong in scoreless 2019 debut". San Diego Union-Tribune. April 6, 2019.
  14. ^ "Gore, Castro lead Cal League All-Star rosters". MiLB.com.
  15. ^ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "Padres' Gore promoted to Double-A". MiLB.com.
  17. ^ Watkins, Matthew (July 9, 2019). "Padres top-ranked prospect promoted to Amarillo". KVII.
  18. ^ "Minors: Padres promote MacKenzie Gore to Texas League". San Diego Union-Tribune. July 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Brian Stultz (November 7, 2019). "Gore puts up video game stats, earns MiLBY". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  20. ^ "2020 Top 100 Baseball Prospects". MLB.com.
  21. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  22. ^ "Minors: MacKenzie Gore makes final Double-A start as Padres ponder path forward". San Diego Union-Tribune. September 18, 2021.
  23. ^ "Minors: MacKenzie Gore pushed to Double-A San Antonio". San Diego Union-Tribune. September 8, 2021.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Baseball Prospects". MLB.com.
  25. ^ "Here are the Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com.
  26. ^ "Padres add Gore to 40-man in roster shuffle". MLB.com.
  27. ^ Cassavell, AJ (April 7, 2022). "Padres set Opening Day roster". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  28. ^ Axisa, Mike (April 14, 2022). "Padres will call up MacKenzie Gore to make MLB debut on Friday vs. Braves". CBS Sports.com. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  29. ^ Cassavell, AJ (April 15, 2022). "Gore brings the heat in MLB debut". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  30. ^ "Padres sweep as Gore earns first win with five shutout innings". MLB.com.
  31. ^ Acee, Kevin (May 5, 2022). "Padres notes: Six starters, for now; golden balls". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  32. ^ Acee, Kevin (May 28, 2022). "Padres starting pitchers working a lot, when they work". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "Padres' MacKenzie Gore (Elbow) placed on IL".
  34. ^ "Padres finalize deal with Nats to land Soto, Bell". MLB.com.
  35. ^ "Gore to make another rehab start, Corbin resumes throwing".
  36. ^ "Gore sets franchise record in K display vs. former team". mlb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.

External links

Washington Nationals current roster
Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year Award
Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year Award
2017 Major League Baseball draft first round selections
San Diego Padres first-round draft picks
Categories