Last year was rough for San Diego Padres pitching prospect MacKenzie Gore.
The former top prospect couldn’t throw a strike last year, and he pitched across several minor league levels without being able to regain his once elite control and command.
He was said to be suffering from the “”yips”.
Just when many folks were writing him off as a bust, he had a strong spring training, with a 4.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 12 innings.
He was optioned to Triple-A El Paso because there wasn’t a spot for him in the Padres’ rotation.
However, the Blake Snell adductor injury opened up a slot for the prized prospect, and so far, he has not disappointed.
Gore Seems Like A Legit Major League Starter
He impressed again in his latest MLB start, which came Wednesday in Cincinnati.
He struck out 10 and pitched five innings of one-run ball in the Padres’ 8-5 win.
His early-season numbers are unbelievable.
“3 starts in MacKenzie Gore‘s MLB career: 15.1 IP, 1.76 ERA, 12 H, 20 K, 6 BB. You would think that Gore is here to stay,” Padres’ insider Sammy Levitt tweeted.
3 starts in MacKenzie Gore's MLB career:
15.1 IP
1.76 ERA
12 H
20 K
6 BBYou would think that Gore is here to stay.
— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) April 28, 2022
Yes, the walks are a tad high, but it’s hard to complain when he has shown he can completely dominate MLB lineups to the point he can strike out ten foes while pitching only five frames.
His arsenal looks better than ever, and his control can still take a step forward.
There is a reason why Gore was a top prospect for so long, and there is also a reason why teams, and fans, should be extremely patient with their prized prospects.
Gore, as Levitt says, should be here to stay, and the Padres would be making a mistake if they option him back to Triple-A.
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