Padres Prospects: MacKeznie Gore remains top lefty prospect in the game

As MLB Pipeline continues to put out their updated rankings for the 2020 season, San Diego Padres prospect MacKenzie Gore remains at the top.

There may not be more hype for a pitching prospect going into the 2020 season than for San Diego Padres lefty MacKenzie Gore.

He finished the 2019 season ranked as the top left-handed pitching prospect in all of baseball and the fourth best prospect overall.

While MLB Pipeline still has not released their updated Top 100, they did release their list of the Top 10 LHP on Wednesday and Gore remains atop that list.

It’s really not all that surprising as the former third overall daft pick in 2017 was named the MiLB Pitcher of they Year after the 2019 season.

You probably all know the stats by now, but it never hurts to marvel at them again.

In 2017 he posted a 1.27 ERA in 7 starts in the Arizona Rookie League with 34 strikeouts in 21.1 innings as an 18 year old.

He spent all of 2018 in Single-A Fort Wayne where he posted a 4.45 ERA in 16 starts with 74 strikeouts in 60.2 innings to go along with a WHIP of 1.30, a K/9 of 11, and a BB/9 of 2.7.

They took the kid gloves off a bit in 2019 as he threw over 100 innings for the first time and advanced all the way up to Double-A.

Gore started 2019 in High-A and dominated with a 1.02 ERA in 15 starts and 79.1 innings with 110 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.71, a K/9 of 12.5, and a BB/9 of 2.3.

He finished the season at Double-A with a 4.15 ERA in 21.2 innings with 25 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.29, a K/9 of 10.4, and a BB/9 of 3.3.

The 6-foot-3 lefty throws a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s, a curveball in the mid-70s, and his mid-80s slider is his best secondary pitch right now. He also throws a change-up and all four pitches are projected to be plus offerings.

MLB Pipeline notes that because he has such great command of his pitches his floor is pretty high and he has what it takes to be an ace at the Major League Level.

Among the Top 10 LHP, they say Gore has the best curveball and the best control of the group. And they also say Gore has the highest ceiling and that “it’s hard to see him as anything but a frontline starter.”

Many believe Gore will make his debut in 2020, which is the ETA from MLB Pipeline.

I’m a little more hesitant and think it will take a Chris Paddack-like Spring Training for him to crack the Opening Day roster. And I think San Diego is a little more cautious with their future ace who has yet to throw more than 101 innings in any pro season.

But there is no denying that he’s one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball and I can’t wait to see him pitch for the Padres.