MILWAUKEE (AP) — MacKenzie Gore believes the adversity he encountered in the minor leagues has helped him thrive now that he’s in the majors.
Gore, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 draft, didn’t get to pitch in 2020 when the pandemic shut down the minor league season and he produced so-so results in the San Diego Padres’ farm system last year. But since arriving in San Diego this year, he’s been nothing short of spectacular.
The 23-year-old Gore continued his sensational rookie season by throwing six stellar innings in a 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
“It helps everybody when you can go through something, adversity, if you can get through it,” Gore said. “It’s helped a ton.”
A day after Joe Musgrove took a no-hit try into the eighth inning and combined with the bullpen to blank the Brewers on one hit, Gore and the San Diego relievers teamed up on another shutout.
Jake Cronenworth homered and drove in three runs to provide all the offense the Padres would need.
Gore (4-1) continued the spectacular start to his rookie season by throwing a career-high 108 pitches. His 10 strikeouts matched a career high. He allowed three hits and three walks while reducing his ERA to 1.50.
According to Stats Perform, Gore is the first pitcher to have at least 55 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.50 or lower over his first nine career appearances since 1913, when ERA became an official statistic in both leagues.
“Spring training is when he kind of showed up with different stuff, or the stuff that he was drafted with,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “He had to go through some tough times, and sometimes that’s good for you. You find yourself again.”
Over his last four outings, Gore has allowed one run and 11 hits in 22 innings. That stretch includes three starts and one…
Leave a Reply