GORE RETURNS TO MOUND ACTION IN ROOKIE LEAGUE

Mackenzie Gore has resurfaced.

The Padres’ top pitching prospect returned to game action for the first time in two months on Thursday, striking out eight over 42⁄3 innings of one-run ball in the Padres’ rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate’s 4-1 win over a Royals affiliate.

Gore scattered two hits, a walk and a hit batter in his first game action since the Padres pulled him from Triple-a El Paso in mid-june to address both a lingering blister and mechanics that have been out of whack since his time at the alternate site at USD in 2020.

The 22-year-old lefthander was 0-2 with a 5.11 ERA, 26 strikeouts and a 1.58 WHIP in seven starts (242⁄3 innings) to start the year with El Paso. Once considered the top pitching prospect in the game, Gore has slid to No. 76 in Baseball America’s top-100 and No. 62 in Mlb.com’s top-100.

The organization’s view of Gore as a future top-end arm, however, remained unchanged as player development set about working through mechanical corrections the last two months away from competition.

The Gore who resurfaced Thursday had more intent and a quicker pace in a full delivery leg kick, generating more power from the ground up. According to accounts from within the organization, he was repeating the motion consistently, too, and commanding his stuff: a fastball that sat 91-96 mph, an 86-87 slider and a plus change-up.

A leadoff walk in the fifth, a throwing error from his catcher and a stolen base set up a two-out, run-scoring single for the only damage charged to Gore.

Yes, Gore’s return to action occurred in rookie ball, but the organization viewed the outing — the mechanics and the stuff — as the best he’s looked all year.

The next step is to be determined.

To the extent that Gore will be an option to help the Padres get through the rest of the season, Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said earlier in the week that “he’s got the ability, he’s got the talent. He’s working really hard, trying to put himself in a spot where he is an option for us.”

Preller added: “We’ll continue to play it out here over the course of the next six weeks or so to see where he stacks up vs. the others that are possibilities for us.”

Around the farm

El Paso (AAA): RHP Adrian Martinez, the Double-a Central pitcher of the month in July, allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in three innings in his Triple-a debut on Tuesday. Martinez was 7-3 with a 2.34 ERA, 83 strikeouts and a 1.09 WHIP in 802⁄3 innings to start the year with San Antonio.

San Antonio (AA): RHP Moises Lugo struck out seven over 42⁄3 shutout innings in his Double-a debut on Friday. He allowed two hits, two walks and hit a batter. Lugo was 4-3 with a 3.46 ERA with 93 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP in 751⁄3 innings to start the year at Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne (A+): RHP Kevin Kopps, the Padres’ third-round pick and the reigning Golden Spikes Award winner, struck out a batter and allowed a hit in a scoreless inning in his fullseason debut. Kopps had struck out 10 in 42⁄3 innings of one-run ball over four appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Lake Elsinore (A): OF Robert Hassell III is tied for the system lead with 30 steals. He is also hitting .318/ .413/.459 with five homers, 53 RBIS and nearly as many walks (55) as strikeouts (69) in 86 games with the Storm.

ACL Padres (R): RHP Trey Wingenter, returning form Tommy John surgery, has struck out four through two perfect innings to start his rehab.

DSL Padres (R): SS Victor Acosta, 17, is 17-for-20 in stolen base attempts and hitting .300/.437/.475 with two homers and 16 RBIS in 25 games to start his career.

jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com

Mackenzie Gore