Padres top prospect MacKenzie Gore won’t make Opening Day roster despite strong spring

Padres option top prospect MacKenzie Gore to Triple-A despite strong spring training

Despite a strong showing in spring training, MacKenzie Gore won’t make the San Diego Padres‘ Opening Day roster. The club announced on Wednesday afternoon that they optioned their top pitching prospect to Triple-A El Paso, along with Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan.

The Padres’ official roster for Opening Day has not been publicly announced, but they are slowly trimming it down to 28 men. It will reduce to the typical 26-man crew in May.

Over four appearances this spring, including two starts, the lefty struck out 16 batters over 12 innings, gave up six earned runs, and issued three walks.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1506731990518845449?s=20&t=5xWEs6UPnFGhgfkwc9Bhmg

Gore was the Padres’ first-round pick in the 2017 June Amateur Draft, the third overall selection. He’s been a prospect to watch ever since, though injuries and mechanical issues impacted his 2021 minor-league season. MLB.com currently ranks him as their fourth-overall prospect and top pitching prospect in the Padres system and estimates that he will debut this season.

The Padres came into spring with an abundance of pitching and even added to it further by trading for Sean Manaea on Sunday. However, with Chris Paddack reportedly on the verge of a trade to the Minnesota Twins, there is once again a way up for Gore.

But for now, his debut will have to wait.

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