MacKenzie Gore

Gore turns 21 in February and finished 2019 with five starts at Double-A, so he is well ahead of schedule. Even so, one pitcher under 23 qualified for leaderboards last year, so we should never assume that a 21- or 22-year-old pitcher is ready to provide positive fantasy value. Other than left-handedness, there is nothing we would say about Gore that we wouldn't have said about Forrest Whitley a year ago, and we know how Whitley's 2019 played out. Gore has prototypical size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds), four plus pitches and plus control. If he avoids significant arm injuries, he should be one of the game's top starting pitchers during his prime, but realistically we are still a few years away from the beginning of his prime. San Diego likes to aggressively promote prospects, so there is a scenario where he spends a good chunk of the year in the big-league rotation, but don't pay for the best-case scenario.

In early April, farm director Sam Geaney said publicly that the Padres were intent on fast-tracking Gore through the minor-league ranks. Unfortunately, injuries -- namely blister issues -- got in the way. A blister on Gore's left hand forced him to the DL to begin the season, and he struggled mightily in two starts upon his return before the issue put him right back on the shelf. Gore went on a brilliant run shortly after his return in June, posting a 2.25 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 43:13 K:BB over a seven-start stretch (32 innings) and reminding everyone why he is one of the most highly-regarded left-handed pitching prospects in the game. Gore's season ended prematurely due to a fingernail problem and he finished with just 60.2 innings, all at the Low-A level. The lost development time likely takes a 2019 debut off the table, but if he can build up past 110 innings or so this season, Gore could be a rotation regular for most of 2020.

The 2017 draft had a lot of high-end pitching talent, but Gore stands out as the cream of the crop. A prep product from North Carolina, Gore was drafted third overall by the Padres, receiving a slightly over-slot $6.7 million bonus. The 6-foot-2 lefty made his pro debut in the AZL and struck out five or more in five of his seven starts, despite never going more than four innings. Gore utilizes a mid-90s fastball and a knee-buckling curveball, both of which are at least plus pitches. He features a unique, straightened leg kick that comes up to his chin -- a timing mechanism that he is able to repeat from pitch to pitch. Gore’s intensity on the mound is another separator among his peers. In just 21.1 innings, he has already established himself as one of the game’s best pitching prospects. He should be one of the first few players from last year’s draft to come off the board in dynasty leagues, and has the potential to cruise to the upper levels of the minors.