RADIO
MacKenzie Gore 2020 Outlook: Future Ace More Likely to Impact 2021
5 years agoMacKenzie Gore deserves some words for 2020 but we’re projecting him as more of a 2021-impact arm rather than 2020. Yes, he’s ultra-talented and could easily beat out that timeline but he’s also just 20 years old (21 in late February) and threw slightly more than 100 innings in 2019. That projection puts him in line for about 140 innings this season and the Padres aren’t likely to push this talented young hurler and risk injury just for 2020 gains. With only 21.2 innings above A-ball, Gore should return to Double-A to open up the season and could see 50-70 innings at that level before moving up to Triple-A for some final fine-tuning prior to a big-league promotion. That puts him in line for 40 to 50 innings in the Majors for 2020. Gore has four pitches with above-average potential, as well as above-average command and control. He already sits in the mid-90s and has room on his frame to add muscle and, subsequently, velocity. All that adds up to the makings of a No. 1 starter. Gore is without a doubt one of the top two or three pitching prospects in the game but he’ll likely have more value in keeper or dynasty leagues than redraft leagues.
