MacKenzie Gore Sent to Arizona to Fix Mechanical Issues

It has been a rough 2021 season for MacKenzie Gore. MLB.com's top prospect for the San Diego Padres failed to make the big league rotation out of Spring Training and the first six weeks of his Triple-A career in El Paso has been rough. In 20 innings, Gore is 0-2 with a 5.85 ERA, including 18 strike outs and 12 walks. To make matters worse, he has been dealing with a blister issue. The Padres decided that the 22-year old needed a change of scenery, and they sent him to Arizona to heal and work on the mechanics in his delivery, according to Jeff Sanders from the San Diego Union Tribune.

Gore's most recent start came last Friday night at home against Sugar Land. He failed to make it out of the second inning, and he gave up six runs (two earned) along with four hits and two walks. Three of those hits were home runs, something he failed to allow in his previous five starts. Gore has been dealing with the blister issue since the end of last month an he has dealt with similar issues at times throughout his Minor League career.

The bigger concern for the left handed pitcher is his delivery. Sanders reported that his mechanics first started to unravel at the team's alternate site last season. Rather than try and work things out against Triple-A hitters, the Padres would rather correct the issue at their Spring Training complex against their own minor league players.