Kansas City Royals: Terrance Gore impresses in first career start

It took 67 career games over six years, but Terrance Gore finally got to start a major league game for the Kansas City Royals.

Terrance Gore has filled a very specific role in his major league career. Whether he has been on the Kansas City Royals or the Chicago Cubs, Gore has primarily functioned as a pinch runner. He had never started any of his 67 career games in the majors, receiving just 20 plate appearances in that time. However, he had scored 21 runs and stolen 28 bases in 32 attempts,

It took until last season, Gore’s fifth year of major league action, to record his first hit. Then, on Monday, Gore had his second major league hit, and the first in his time with the Royals. It was a cause for celebration for those who had watched him burn up the basepaths in the Royals two runs to the World Series.

On Wednesday, Gore achieved another milestone. His name was in the lineup, playing left field as Alex Gordon was given the day off. However, he did not set a record for games before his first start – that record is held by Allan Lewis, another speedster who waited 97 games before he got his first start.

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As it turned out, the decision to start Gore actually worked. Gore was 3-4 with a double and a triple against the Mariners, more than doubling his career hit total in one night. He scored a run and drove in another, the first RBI of his major league career.

Sadly, Gore finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. As he only has one career home run in his professional career, a home run hit with the Omaha Storm Chasers back in 2017, just imagine the pandemonium had Gore come through and blasted one into the fountains. Or, as would have been more likely, he found a gap and displayed his elite speed in circling the bases.

Gore did not just impress with the bat. He made several excellent catches, flashing that speed and defense. As Gore has played all three outfield positions and generally displayed a solid glove, his performance defensively was not a surprise.

Terrance Gore made his first major league start count, making an impact in every facet of the game. He may find himself in the Kansas City Royals lineup again soon.