Terrance Gore’s death at 34 leaves ex-Royals GM ‘heartbroken’

Dayton Moore, the architect of the 2015 Royals team that won the World Series, is “heartbroken” over the passing of former Kansas City outfielder Terrance Gore.

Gore died during “what was supposed to have been a simple procedure,” according to a post Saturday on social media from his wife, Britney. He was 34 years old.

“We are all heartbroken to hear the devastating news of the passing of Terrance Gore,” Moore said in a statement. “A beloved husband and father of three, he was deeply devoted to his beautiful family. We are all hurting for his wife Britney and their three children during this incredibly difficult time.

“Terrance brought a high level of excitement and anticipation to the game. He was unstoppable as a base stealer, and he inspired athletes throughout our country to pursue baseball. He was loved and respected by his very special teammates, who will continue to love his family during this time of sadness.”

Gore, a Georgia native, spent parts of eight seasons in the major leagues, mostly serving as a baserunning specialist, beginning with the Royals in 2014 and during their ’15 championship season. He later also earned World Series rings with the 2020 Dodgers and the 2021 Braves before appearing in 10 games for the Mets in 2022, finishing with 43 stolen bases in 52 attempts despite only 85 career plate appearances over in 112 big-league games.

“There have been very few players who can take over a baseball game,” Moore added in an interview with the Royals team website. “That’s exactly what he did. He became a fan favorite. He was beloved by his teammates. And he was just fearless and impactful on the bases but also off the field.

“Terrance was a natural fit for us and the type of player we looked for. We paid more attention to the guys who could flat out run than power because we knew developing the power tool might not fit within our timeline. We were heavily focused on speed at that point in the draft.”