Jared Shuster vs Mac Kenzie Gore MLB Event
Jared Shuster and Mac Kenzie Gore are two of the most highly-touted pitching prospects in all of baseball. Both left-handers were selected in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft and have made their way through the minor leagues quickly. As they both make their way to the majors, it's only natural to compare the two and see which one has the brighter future. In this post, we will dive into the strengths and weaknesses of both pitchers and ultimately try to determine who will have the better career.
Jared Shuster vs Mac Kenzie Gore MLB Event
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Jared Shuster was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the 25th overall pick in the 2019 draft. He played his college ball at Wake Forest, where he was a standout pitcher in the ACC. Shuster has a 6'3" frame and weighs in at 210 pounds. He features a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. His fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s, while his slider and curveball are both above-average offerings. His changeup is still a work in progress, but it has shown some promise.
Mac Kenzie Gore was drafted by the San Diego Padres with the third overall pick in the 2019 draft. He played his high school ball in North Carolina before being selected by the Padres. Gore has a 6'3" frame and weighs in at 195 pounds. He features a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball, curveball, and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and has been clocked as high as 97 mph. His curveball is considered one of the best in all of baseball, while his changeup is also a plus offering.
Both pitchers have impressive arsenals, but there are some key differences between the two. Shuster has an additional pitch in his repertoire with his slider, which gives him an extra weapon to attack hitters. Gore, on the other hand, has a curveball that is considered one of the best in the game. It's a true swing-and-miss pitch that he can throw in any count. Additionally, Gore's fastball has more velocity than Shuster's, which gives him an advantage in terms of pure stuff.
However, Shuster's slider is a devastating pitch when he's on, and it's shown flashes of being a true out-pitch. If he can refine it and gain more consistency, it could become a weapon that he can use to dominate hitters. Shuster's changeup is also a pitch that has shown promise, and if he can develop it further, it could be a third above-average offering to go along with his slider and curveball.
Gore has also dealt with some injury issues during his time in the minors, which is always a concern for pitchers. He missed time with blisters in 2019 and then had a hip issue in 2020. While he's been healthy so far in 2021, the concern over his durability is always going to be there. Shuster, on the other hand, has been healthy throughout his minor league career and doesn't have any injury concerns.
When it comes to their performance on the mound, both pitchers have put up impressive numbers in the minors. In 15 career starts, Shuster has a 2.62 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and a 12.7 K/9 rate. He's also limited opposing hitters to a .192 batting average. Gore has been equally as dominant, if not more so. In 16 career starts, he has a 1.57 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP and a 12.4 K/9 rate. He's limited opposing hitters to a .154 batting average.
