Padres’ MacKenzie Gore takes step back in AFL; CJ Abrams nursing shoulder injury

MacKenzie Gore’s build up will not come without speed bumps.

Wednesday’s was a big one.

The 22-year-old left-hander walked five without recording a strikeout and was lifted with one out in the second inning in Peoria’s 5-4 win over the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.

Gore, who sat 93-98 mph with the fastball, allowed three runs on two hits, threw just 26 of his 54 pitches for strikes and threw 29 pitches in the second when exited with the bases loaded.

The outing was Gore’s second of the fall as he allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings last week in his first start.

After Wednesday’s start, Gore has a 7.11 ERA after posting a 3.93 ERA in 50 1/3 innings split between four affiliates as he worked through mechanical deficiencies.

Gore – who is ranked No. 56 in MLB.com’s top-100 prospects rankings and No. 84 in Baseball America’s top-100 – discussed his 2021 season with the Union-Tribune here.

CJ Abrams update

CJ Abrams bruised his left (non-throwing) shoulder while sliding during earlier this offseason in instructional league action and has not yet appeared in the Arizona Fall League, although he is said to be progressing.

An MRI did not reveal any structural damage.

The 21-year-old Abrams was hitting .296/.363/.420 with two homers and 13 steals in 15 chances in 42 games at Double-A San Antonio when he fractured his left tibia and sprained his left MCL, ending his season.
Abrams is ranked No. 6 in both MLB.com’s and Baseball America’s top-100s.

Notable

• RHP Matt Waldron, a knuckleballer, struck out a batter and allowed only a hit in a scoreless inning in his second AFL appearance with Peoria on Wednesday. He has allowed a run in three innings thus far this fall. RHP Jose Quezada (9.00 ERA) struck out a batter and allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to record his first save on Wednesday.
• RHP Jesse Scholtens has struck out six against two walks while allowing a run in 3 2/3 innings through his first two AFL appearances.
• OF Tirso Ornelas is hitting .357/.400/.524 with a homer, four doubles and eight RBIs in 11 games with Navojoa in the Mexican winter league.
• Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Baseball League has pushed back the start of its 2021/22 season to mid-to-late December. The season had been set to start on Nov. 18. Last year’s campaign began Dec. 17.
• The Dominican winter league will begin Oct. 27. The Venezuelan winter league begins Oct. 23.