Minors: Padres will start season with MacKenzie Gore, Luis Campusano at Triple-A El Paso

MacKenzie Gore will begin the season in Triple-A.

The left-handed pitcher and catcher Luis Campusano, the Padres’ fourth- and third-rated prospects, respectively, according to MLB.com, were optioned to El Paso on Wednesday.

Both are considered close to joining the big-league club.

Gore’s major league debut having to wait wasn’t a surprise, but a strong spring had at least had him on the cusp for a time.

Before acquiring left-handed starter Sean Manaea in a trade Sunday, the Padres were facing an innings deficit in their rotation. Manaea replaced Mike Clevinger in the rotation. Clevinger, who will be limited in how much he can throw when he returns, will start the season on the IL with knee soreness.

Gore, 23, allowed six runs in 12 innings this spring. Four of those runs came in his final outing. He struck out 16 and walked three.

“I can get big-league hitters out,” Gore said Monday. “They’re going to go with whoever they think makes the team better. Whatever they decide, either way, it’s going to be great. … I look forward to whatever happens.”

With the way a season churns through pitchers, no one in the organization thinks it will be long before Gore is in the majors.

Campusano, 23, was a longer shot to break camp with the team, in large part because the Padres were set ahead of him. So set, in fact, they traded Victor Caratini to the Brewers on Wednesday. Austin Nola and Jorge Alfaro will be the catchers at the start of the season.

Campusano got just 20 plate appearances in spring training. He had two hits, both home runs, and one walk. His bat has never been a question. It was his defensive improvements that won rave reviews this spring.

But it had long been indicated by the Padres’ decision makers that both young players would do well to get more playing time in Triple-A than would be available to them in the majors.

Wednesday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (2-0)

• Chihuahuas 6, Round Rock 2: RF Trayce Thompson hit his second homer in as many games and 2B Domingo Leyba drove in two runs on his first homer. 3B Matt Batten went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two steals. LHP Aaron Leasher struck out six over four innings of two-run ball in the start and RHP Heath Fillmyer (1-0) earned the win with two shutout innings. RHP Evan Miller struck out four over two perfect innings and LHP Ray Kerr walked a batter in a scoreless ninth. LHP Ryan Weathers will start Thursday’s game for El Paso.