MacKenzie Evan Gore, born February 24, 1999, in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a professional baseball starting pitcher currently playing for the Washington Nationals in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected third overall in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres after an acclaimed high school career at Whiteville High School in North Carolina[1][2][4]. Gore began his professional career in the minor leagues, where he earned several honors including Baseball America Rookie All-Star in 2017, multiple Pitcher of the Week awards in 2019, and the MiLB.com Staff Choice for Best Starting Pitcher the same year. He also was a MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2019 with the Padres' system[1][2]. He made his MLB debut on April 15, 2022, with the Padres and later joined the Washington Nationals. Gore, a left-handed pitcher standing 6'2" and weighing 193 lbs, is known for his pitching skillset including a strong fastball and effective breaking balls[1][2][4][5]. In the major leagues, Gore has appeared in over 100 games, compiling a win-loss record around 26-41 with an earned run average (ERA) near 4.19 and over 580 strikeouts through 2025. He has been recognized as a National League All-Star in 2025, highlighting his growing impact in MLB[1][2][3]. In the 2025 season, Gore recorded 159.2 innings pitched with a 4.17 ERA and 185 strikeouts. However, his season was cut short due to a right ankle impingement injury, which placed him on the injured list and ended his campaign prematurely[3]. Overall, MacKenzie Gore is regarded as a talented young left-handed pitcher with notable minor league success and increasing prominence at the MLB level, currently contributing as a key starter for the Washington Nationals.