SAN DIEGO -- With their highest selection in eight years, the Padres hope they've found their next ace. San Diego took high school left-hander MacKenzie Gore with the third overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft on Monday night.Gore's numbers at Whiteville High School in Whiteville, N.C., are nothing short of dazzling. In his senior season, he posted a 0.22 ERA and struck out 132 hitters in 63 1/3 innings. He went 9-0, leading his team to its third state title in four years. 
The Padres view Gore, a 6-foot-2 southpaw with a four-pitch mix and a mid-90s fastball, as a future starter at the front end of their rotation. It's the third consecutive year in which the Padres have taken a pitcher with their first pick. They selected Cal Quantrill at No. 8 overall in 2016 and Austin Smith at No. 51 in '15.After the Padres select at No. 39 and No. 69 on Monday night, the Draft will continues on Tuesday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 9:30 a.m. PT, with exclusive coverage beginning at 10 a.m. PT. AJ Cassavell / MLB.com
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