Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | SD | LHP | 1 | 60 |
Grades Update: Mar 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 70 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 60/55 |
Mar 2021 Report
Evaluator: James Chipman
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 197 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2017 Round 1
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Ideal pitcher's frame. Athletic, wiry build. Average torso; high waist with broad shoulders that slope and long levers. Average core; strong sturdy lower half. Impressive athlete with excellent coordination and fluid actions. Fierce competitor; wants the ball. Strong work ethic and advanced feel for the game.
Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; drop and drive operation. High 3/4 arm slot with near elite arm speed from a low effort delivery. Average stride; above-average extension. Extension and arm speed pad perceived velocity. Huge exaggerated letter-high leg kick and deep hand break generate plus deception. Works downhill with fluid, athletic motions. Clean well repeated mechanics despite having a rather long arm path and complex deployment. Consistent, well balanced, online landings. Tunnels the entire arsenal exceptionally well.
Fastball: Sits 92-94 t96 with flashes of plus command. Explodes out of the hand. Fills the zone; flashes the ability to work all four quads. Manipulates velo and movement well. Shows exceptional riding life in the upper third; heavy sink in the lower half; occasional cut on the edges of the plate. Frame and high slot generate steep downward plane. Misses are predominantly glove-side and low in the zone. Extension, arm speed and deception pad the overall grade. Grade: 60
Curveball: Sits 77-80 with tight rotation, hard bite and big 1/7 action. Advanced feel; works it to both sides of the plate regardless of handedness of batter; comfortable pitching backwards. Steals strikes with it early in the count and utilizes it as a bat missing, put-away pitch. Hangers are rare. Lives on the edges; will backfoot RHB and backdoor LHB; occasionally spikes it beneath the zone for chase. Grade: 55
Slider: Sits 84-88; consistency and shape wavers. Upper velo band yields more horizontal action than depth, with occasional tilt. Lower velo band shows sweepy action more reminiscent of a slurve. Can spot it for strikes and get swing and miss to less advanced hitters. Overall a fringy wrinkle in the arsenal with average potential. Grade: 50
Changeup: Underutilized. Sits 82-85. Inconsistent but shows exceptional feel; maintains arm speed; tunneled well off FB with optimal velocity separation. Late tumble with moderate fade. Challenges same sided batters; tough against RHB. Elicits both swing and miss and weak contact. Should develop into an above-average offering with further pro instruction. Development will likely influence his future role. Grade: 55
Control and Command: Athleticism and unique but well repeated mechanics yield flashes of exceptional command. A confident strike thrower with plus control and above-average command at his best, Gore simply needs more consistency. He gets into grooves where he fills the zone, attacks and rarely wastes pitches. Occasional valleys where he loses feel for secondaires and struggles to find the zone. Overall an advanced feel for pitching; he attacks all four quads; shows confidence pitching backwards; avoids predictable sequencing; not afraid to attack inside or up in the zone. Lives in or around the zone; misses are predominately glove side and low. Enough positive traits to project consistent above-average command. Control: 60 | Command: 55
Overall: Gore has size, athleticism, flashes of command and a deep arsenal of potential above-average or better offerings - the blueprint for an impact level frontline SP. The development of his command and improved consistency of his secondaries will be paramount for him to reach his ceiling. One of baseball's best pitching prospects, Gore should eat plenty of innings and miss plenty of bats - a welcomed addition to an already stacked Padres rotation.
OFP: 60
Role: 70 - Impact Frontline SP
Risk: High
