San Diego Padres: The Silent Assassin and Baby Rattlesnake

Baseball evaluators feel that the top two pitching prospects in the San Diego Padres minor league system are very close to achieving the top of the rotation potential.

The following is a closer look at the two phenoms and what San Diego Padres fans can look forward to when they achieve their potential at the major league level. We are assuming no major injury issues sidetrack them while they work toward their professional ceilings.

The Silent Assassin

Mackenzie Gore was given this nickname by Jim Callis of MLBPipeline when discussing his admiration for the Padres prospect. Callis is known to favor Gore over all the other lefty prospects in baseball.

At the time of the 2017 draft, Gore was taken number three overall behind SS Royce Lewis of the Twins and RHP Hunter Greene of the Reds. Lewis remains the top prospect for the Twins and Greene had Tommy John surgery last season. If Gore makes his major league debut in 2020, he will be pitching with the Padres in his age 21 season.

Despite missing a good portion of the 2018 season due to blister and fingernail issues, Gore came on strong in 2019. Pitching 101 innings between Single-A Lake Elsinore (79.8 innings) and Double-A Amarillo (21.2 innings), he ended with a 1.69 ERA and135 strikeouts between the two leagues. At 6′-3″ and 195 pounds, Gore will fill out more as he matures but already throws his fastball in the mid to upper 90s. He throws a power slider, an above-average curveball, and a plus changeup.

The most impressive thing is his repeatable delivery with a high leg kick reminiscent of Clayton Kershaw. He holds his delivery throughout his starts with excellent control and command for such a young pitcher.

The other qualities that contribute to his high evaluation are his competitive nature, athleticism, and aptitude for baseball. He is uncommonly mature for someone with such little professional experience.

If he achieves his top of the rotation ceiling, it is not hard to imagine a career that could parallel Clayton Kershaw. The challenge will be to control his innings and workload while building up his arm as he matures.

For this reason, I see him starting the season in AA Amarillo or AAA El Paso with a promotion to the Friars after about 60-80 innings unless injury pushes the timeline.

I can’t envision more than 140 innings for him this season as the organization builds his workload. As fans, we are all frustrated by workload management for the pitching staff, but patience is an important consideration for someone who can be a major talent going forward.

If he can pitch in 10-12 games and be limited to five to six innings per start, we will be able to appreciate what possibilities exist for the 2021 season.

Mackenzie Gore has achieved great success in such a short period. The big leap to the major league team should be timed to allow him the best opportunity for success as well as protecting him physically to enable him to have a long and successful career.

Baby Rattlesnake

Luis Patino came into the Padres organization with the 2016 international prospect bonanza. Signing for $130,000, Patino was undersized with an 80’s fastball and a projectable arm. Concentrating his development on mechanics and strength and conditioning, the Friars have watched him bloom into the number three prospect in the organization as well as the 27th best prospect in baseball and the eighth-best RHP prospect (per MLBPipeline).

While still only 6′ and 192 pounds, Patino has drawn comparisons to Pedro Martinez. His fastball reaches 99 mph with a power slider, plus curve and developing changeup. He holds that velocity deep into his starts with explosive late life due to the whip motion of his arm. This gives his fastball natural cutting action.

Labeled the baby rattlesnake by Lake Elsinore pitching coach Pete Zamora in 2017, Patino was known for his power pitches but an inability to control location. He was a thrower and not a pitcher. Much has changed since then. His command and control are much improved, as witnessed by his 2019 stats.

2.69 ERA, 87 innings pitched with a .192 batting average against in Single-A. 1.17 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched and .258 average against in AA in his 19 years of age season. The numbers are encouraging but very limited. With his non-roster invitation to 2020 major league spring training, Patino has the opportunity to show the coaches and staff, as well as the fans, what he is capable of.

We all got a sneak peek of his ability.

Pitching to top prospects invited to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game, Patino pitched two shutout innings to finish the game, stranding runners and securing a 2-2 tie after the 8th inning. His composure under pressure, in a major league ballpark, with a lot of attention focused on him, bodes well for his ability to perform at the major league level.

After the first few weeks of spring training, it is likely he will be sent back to minors camp to hone his command and control, along with building his workload. The 2017 pitching coach for Lake Elsinore, Pete Zamora, is the pitching coach for AAA El Paso this season, and it would seem a properly completed circle to allow him to further assist with polishing the budding ace.

No matter whether we see Luis Patino pitch for the Padres this season or not, there is little doubt that his talent will propel him to the major leagues soon. Barring a major injury, Patino will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the believers and the doubters whether he can follow in the footsteps of the great Pedro Martinez.