Washington Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore finally makes Nats debut…

Mackenzie Gore, a 2017 first-round pick that the San Diego Padres acquired last summer to the Washington Nationals in a deal with blockbuster Juan Soto, just turned 24 this week and is last year’s top pick. The left-hander, who was injured during a summer trade, did not make his debut for his new team in 2022.

Gore got off to a solid start in the majors, posting a 1.50 ERA, 2.20 FIP, 17 walks, 57Ks and a stingy .200/.279/.241 line in his first nine games, going 8 games in his first nine. Went in and had 48 IPs. for the Padres after he made his MLB debut early last season.

Overall, Gore posted a 4.50 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 37 walks (4.76 BB/9), 72 Ks (9.26 K/9), and .248/.346/.376 lines in 16 games before being dealt. bottom. .

The southpaw began rehab with Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals system, but ultimately, his new club decided to ban him from pitching for a big league club in 2018.

“Mackenzie — he’s had some early success, but I know he got hurt last year,” says Knots skipper Davey Martinez, who gets a chance to see Gore up close in spring training. I spoke about it earlier this spring.

“We caught him. Even though he tried to make a comeback, we chose not to throw him anymore. As we enter the winter, get ready and go about our normal routine, He’s back a little bit stronger.. nice he’s already throwing multiple bullpens, he’s already throwing live BP and the ball is coming out really well.So let’s welcome him into this spring training I’m really excited to work with him and see what he does throughout the year. but we can keep him healthy for a year here.

Martinez was asked what he’s looking for this spring to let Gore know he’s 100% recovered.

“It’s his mechanics,” Martinez said. “He cleaned up what we wanted to do and it was all about hitting the strike zone with him. He’s really, really effective when he does that. I mean, He has his 3, maybe 4 plus-plus pitches and I’ve seen a few of them.

“He throws a slider, he throws a curveball and they’re…really sharp. And his fastball plays and that’s the biggest thing, being able to control his fastball .”

A few days later, the manager again spoke with reporters about Gore’s mechanics during live BP, leg kicks, deceptions, and everything southpaws are doing on the mound.

“For one, it’s part of him,” Martinez said of the left-handed, slightly funky mechanics.

“Because it’s a bit of a cheat. We had to make sure he didn’t go too fast and get out of rhythm. fly open.

“So we have to keep an eye on it and that’s what he’s already focused on this spring.”

The director said he didn’t get to meet Gore in person last season, but he saw a lot of videos about pitchers from his Padres days and the Knots’ Triple-A days.

“When he was really good in San Diego, we saw a lot of things. Where he is and what his ball is doing.

Following bullpen and live batting practice, Gore lined up to start his new ball club’s Grapefruit League opener last Saturday.

“He’s ready,” Martinez told reporters. Words by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

“He’s pitched multiple times (live batting practice sessions against hitters) so he’s ready. I can’t wait to see him come out and pitch.”

Once in camp, Gore arrived in West Palm Beach a few weeks early and was eager to attend spring training, as he said during an appearance on MASN’s Hot Stove show in January.

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Gore, who has a strong reputation with the Padres and was part of a big deal last summer, wanted to pitch for the Nationals last season in order to get to know his new teammates, but he did so last season. He said he understood the decision to shut him down in the second half. , after his rehab began, rather than nurturing him for outings in the majors, he didn’t feel the need to prove himself.

“We had to be smart. I had to be smart,” Gore explained.

“I knew what made me where I was, and I understood.”

And he stressed he didn’t feel the need to justify the trade the Nats made to move Juan Soto.and Josh Bell) pitcher and four other highly regarded young prospects (Luke Voight Released Since).

“There is no extra pressure,” said Gore. “Look, we have work to do. It’s about performance, and I had to perform, so that’s just part of it.”

Gore, who worked last season through the winter and early this spring, told reporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., that he was healthy and ready to go to the first game of the year. .

“I felt 100 percent,” Gore said of his current health. As quoted by MASNsports.com last week.

“I can do whatever I want on the mound. Never dialed in right now, but my body is strong. I should be ready by the end of spring.”

In his Nationals debut on Saturday afternoon, Gore threw only 18 total pitches in an inning (it was as planned), 13 balls for strikes, fastballs (9 of 18, 95.3 MPH AVG), curveballs (28%, 81.2 MPH), sliders (17%, 89.5 MPH), and changeups (6%, 87.5 MPH) mixed. , gave up one hit and stole one batter in his Grapefruit League debut.

“I thought it was good,” Gore told reporters. St. Louis Cardinals, Words by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

“I thought we were building on what we did in[the live batting practice session earlier this week]. thought.”

Gore averaged 94.7 miles per hour on his fastball in the Majors last season and threw it 60.9% of the time. He reaches 96.3 MPH for the first time.

“I think it’s good for now,” Gore said. MLB.com writer Jessica Camerato.

“I want you to grow little by little. But 95, 96, it’s good.”

His manager was also happy with the outing.

“One thing is for sure, his direction was clean, and we liked it,” Martinez said.

“We go back, sit down, watch it and talk to him about it. But he repeats his mechanics pitch after pitch and it was great to see.”