On Saturday, the Washington Nationals welcomed MacKenzie Gore to the big leagues with a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The 20-year-old left-hander made his Major League debut and dominated the Braves, giving up just one run on four hits in six innings of work.
Gore was the third overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game. He was called up to the Nationals on Friday and made his debut the next day. He showed why he was so highly touted, as he struck out seven batters and walked none. He also induced 11 groundball outs, showing off his ability to keep hitters off balance.
Gore was efficient throughout his outing, throwing just 77 pitches. He was able to get ahead in the count early and often, which allowed him to work quickly and keep the Braves hitters off balance. His fastball sat in the low 90s and he mixed in a sharp curveball and a changeup to keep hitters guessing.
The Nationals offense provided Gore with plenty of support, scoring four runs in the first three innings. Trea Turner and Ryan Zimmerman both had RBI singles in the first inning, and Juan Soto added an RBI double in the third.
Gore’s debut was a huge success, as he showed why he was such a highly touted prospect. He kept the Braves hitters off balance all night and showed off his impressive arsenal of pitches. He looks to be a key part of the Nationals rotation going forward and should be a major contributor for years to come.
