Who is the Number 2 Prospect in Baseball?
Baseball is a popular sport in the United States and around the world, and the MLB Draft is one of the most exciting times of the year for teams and fans alike. Every year, teams are eager to select the top prospects in the draft and see who will become the next generation of stars in the game. But who is the number two prospect in baseball?
MLB Draft Overview
The MLB Draft is an annual event in which Major League Baseball teams select eligible amateur players to join their clubs. Teams select players in reverse order of the previous season’s standings, meaning that the team with the worst record in the Major Leagues will have the first pick of the draft. The draft usually consists of 40 rounds and lasts for three days, and players are usually taken from high school, college, or junior college.
The Number 2 Prospect in Baseball
The number two prospect in baseball is MacKenzie Gore, a left-handed pitcher from Whiteville, North Carolina. Gore was drafted by the San Diego Padres with the third overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. In his first two seasons in the minors, Gore has been impressive, posting a 2.03 ERA in 68.1 innings pitched. He has also struck out 100 batters in those innings, proving that he is a legitimate top-tier pitching prospect.
Gore’s Background
Gore was born on February 24, 1999 in Whiteville, North Carolina. He grew up playing baseball with his brother and father, who was a former minor league pitcher. Gore attended Whiteville High School, where he was an All-State performer as a freshman. He was also named the Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year in 2017.
Gore’s Strengths
Gore is a left-handed pitcher with a fastball that can reach up to 96 mph. He also has a curveball, a slider, and a changeup in his arsenal. He has good command of all of his pitches and can locate them consistently. Gore also has a good pickoff move, which helps him keep runners off the bases.
Gore’s Weaknesses
Gore has a few weaknesses that he will need to work on if he wants to reach his full potential. He needs to work on his control, as he has struggled with walks at times in the minors. He also needs to continue to develop his secondary pitches, as his curveball and slider are still works in progress.
Gore’s Future
Gore is considered by many to be the best pitching prospect in baseball, and he has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter in the majors. He is expected to make his major league debut in 2021, and he could be a star in the making.
Other Top Prospects in Baseball
While MacKenzie Gore is the Number 2 prospect in baseball, there are several other top prospects worth keeping an eye on. Here is a list of some of the top prospects in baseball:
- Adley Rutschman – Catcher, Baltimore Orioles
- Nolan Gorman – Third Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals
- Riley Greene – Outfielder, Detroit Tigers
- Bobby Witt Jr. – Shortstop, Kansas City Royals
- Andrew Vaughn – First Baseman, Chicago White Sox
- Jasson Dominguez – Outfielder, New York Yankees
- Nick Lodolo – Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
Conclusion
MacKenzie Gore is the Number 2 prospect in baseball, and he has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter in the majors. He is a left-handed pitcher with a fastball that can reach up to 96 mph, and he has good command of his secondary pitches. He needs to work on his control and his secondary pitches, but he has the potential to be an impact player in the majors.
There are many other top prospects in baseball that teams should keep an eye on, such as Adley Rutschman, Nolan Gorman, Riley Greene, Bobby Witt Jr., Andrew Vaughn, Jasson Dominguez, and Nick Lodolo. The MLB Draft is always an exciting time of the year, and teams will be looking to add these top prospects to their rosters in the coming years.
References
- Baseball America. (2021). MacKenzie Gore. Retrieved from baseballamerica.com/players/74375/mackenzie-gore/
- MLB.com. (2021). 2017 Draft: Padres Draft LHP MacKenzie Gore No. 3 Overall. Retrieved from mlb.com/news/mackenzie-gore-drafted-by-padres-in-2017-draft
- MLB Pipeline. (2021). Top Prospects. Retrieved from mlb.com/prospects/top-100