San Diego Padres prospect MacKenzie Gore fast track sidetracked by blister

The San Diego Padres have their microscope fixed on top pitching prospect MacKenzie Gore. Recently transferred to the minor league 7-day disabled list, the promising young left-hander is nursing a bothersome blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

It was previously reported that the San Diego Padres number 3 overall pick from last year’s draft, MacKenzie Gore, would be rapidly pushed through the minor leagues. At the time, the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Jeff Sanders had this quote from the Padres’ director of player development Sam Geaney:

"“He’s going to move fast enough to where we’re going to need to put a lot of innings on him so that he’s ready.”"

With all eyes squarely on him as the San Diego Padres most prized possession, everybody had him just fast-tracking along. And then – errrrrr – that train came to a screeching halt. San Diego’s bonus baby had his bubble burst by a bothersome blister. Now the team is all, let’s pump our brakes and slow this thing down.

Apparently, his blister has been lingering since spring training. MacKenzie Gore even made one minor league start while trying to pitch through the issue. Nevertheless, the San Diego Padres transferred MacKenzie Gore to their minor league 7-day DL last week as a precaution. It’s all for the best though I’d say. At least MacKenzie Gore can relax a bit now that some of that intense pressure on him is lessened.

While the blister is reportedly not that devastating, the San Diego Padres are treating everything Gore-related with delicate kid gloves. Understandable considering this kid is a stud the likes the San Diego Padres haven’t seen in a left-handed pitcher since, well…ever.

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Considered one of the top prep pitching prospects in all of baseball by most major publications, MacKenzie Gore led his high school team to three state titles during his four years there. He also laid down a senior year for the ages allowing just two earned runs and five walks in 74 2/3 innings.

San Diego envisions him developing into a front of the rotation starting pitcher, likely an ace. You’d have to go back to the days of righty Matt Clement to find a consensus top-rated pitching prospect with near the amount of pomp and circumstance that is now surrounding Gore.

25 years ago, the San Diego Padres preferred to give their pitching prospects more time to develop in the minors. Times have changed and, with today’s ever-increasing bonus dollars allotted for high draft picks, most teams want a more immediate return on their investment. However, there might be some logic to the model used on Clement being at least partly applied to Gore.

Drafted in 1993, Matt Clement made his minor league début the following year.

Back when Clement was coming up through their system, the Padres’ development plan was simple but ultimately effective. San Diego would gradually increase Matt’s yearly innings total over five minor league seasons.

In 1994, Clement totaled 74 innings pitched his first season. Then by 1998, the Padres would eventually have him stretched to 185 combined innings.

Called up for his first cup of coffee in September of that year, Clement mustered 13 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings while compiling a 2-0 record in 4 games.

Then from 1999 through 2005, Clement started his major league career with seven straight healthy seasons. With an average of 190 innings pitched per year during that span, Clement finished with double-digit win totals in five seasons and never won less than nine games in a year.

I doubt the Padres would ever slow Gore’s development to the pace that they had Clement on 25 years ago.  I do feel Gore will be pampered in a way we are not used to seeing from the Padres. At least in comparison to their recent prospects who have mostly risen quickly through the minor league ranks.

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Experts were estimating around 130 innings from MacKenzie Gore this year with the caveat being: if he stays healthy. With a blister sidetracking his bullet train ascension, Gore might be on a slower ride than previously speculated. Maybe next year he’ll be back on the fast track, but for now, it seems the San Diego Padres will be coddling the kid.