San Diego Padres MacKenzie Gore Dominating at Start of Career

The San Diego Padres may have been hoping to draft local product Hunter Greene. MacKenzie Gore is looking like far more than a consolation prize.

It would have been a great story. Hunter Greene was a local high school player, one of the top prospects in the most recent draft. The San Diego Padres, drafting third overall, were a distinct possibility to draft the talented two way player. Greene wanted to go to San Diego. However, the Cincinnati Reds selected Greene with the second overall pick, ending that dream.

Instead, the Padres selected fellow high schooler MacKenzie Gore, a left handed pitcher from North Carolina. In a way, it may have felt like a consolation prize, as the Padres received a highly talented arm, but not quite the player they wanted. As it turns out, this may have worked out for the best for San Diego.

In his first three outings, Gore has dominated. Over the course of his 8.2 innings, he has allowed just three hits and a walk, striking out 13 batters. Gore has also displayed an excellent move, picking off two of those four baserunners. Unsurprisingly, Gore has yet to allow a run, showing truly dominant stuff thus far.

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Gore has also been a ground ball machine on the mound. On those rare instances when the opposition does make contact, they are pounding the ball right into the ground. Gore has 11 ground ball outs, compared to just one fly ball out in his young career. As he moves his way up the ladder, that ability to generate grounder will be a true asset.

Obviously, as Gore is pitching in the Arizona Rookie League, he has quite a long time before a major league debut is a consideration. Nonetheless, with a start like he has had to his professional career, it is easy to dream. As the Padres continue to grow a young and talented nucleus, it is possible that Gore will be a key part of their upcoming rotation.

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MacKenzie Gore has had an incredible start to his professional career. While he will not continue that dominance, he has given plenty of hope that he can be a key part of the San Diego Padres future.