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Writer's pictureMark Rosenman

Anthony Gose's Long and Winding Road to Queens: A Most Unconventional Journey



It’s not every day the Mets sign a player who has pitched at 99 mph and stolen 70 bases in a season,and won a Silver Medal in the Olympics, but Anthony Gose isn’t your everyday ballplayer. The newly-minted minor league signee and spring training invitee brings a career trajectory more winding than the Taconic Parkway. Gose started as a speedy center fielder, transitioned into a flame-throwing pitcher, and now, at age 34, finds himself poised to add a new chapter to his baseball story in Queens. It’s a move that is the very definition of “low-risk, high-reward” for the Mets and “let’s see if I still got it” for Gose. If nothing else, it guarantees spring training won’t be boring.


Let's dive into the curious case of Anthony Gose's baseball evolution—a tale where center field meets the pitcher's mound in a way that would make even a Hollywood scriptwriter raise an eyebrow. If this story doesn’t scream, *“You can’t make this stuff up!”* I don’t know what does.


Anthony Gose, was once a Tigers’ fleet-footed centerfielder, who decided to try his luck as a left-handed pitcher in 2017. At 26, with a career that had been more swings and misses than home runs, the Tigers gave him a chance to channel his inner Nolan Ryan—because hey, if Sean Doolittle could do it, why not Gose?




In the words of then-Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus, Gose’s idea to pitch wasn’t completely out of left field (pun intended). “He was a guy who threw in the mid-90s in high school,” Ausmus noted. Apparently, this arm wasn’t just for hurling cannonballs from the outfield—it was capable of pumping fastballs past batters, too. ESPN analyst Keith Law reminisced about Gose’s high school pitching days, describing his “super fast arm” and a delivery so violent it could moonlight as an action movie stunt double. Law thought Gose had a better shot as a pitcher than as a hitter, and considering Gose’s .209 batting average in 2016, Law might have been onto something.


Let’s not sugarcoat it—Gose’s bat was as streaky as a squeegee windshield cleaning job in the Bronx during rush hour.". After a decent 2015 season where he hit .254 with 74 runs scored, things went downhill fast. He batted .209 in 2016, struck out 145 times in 140 games, and spent more time shuffling between Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie than most people spend in the Starbucks drive-thru.


His struggles weren’t just at the plate. In Toledo, he had a heated argument with coach Lloyd McClendon, which earned him a one-way ticket to Erie. While Gose might not have won any batting titles, he did win the “Most Likely to Frustrate Coaches” award.


When Gose approached the Tigers about trying out as a pitcher, Ausmus didn’t laugh him out of the room. Instead, he compared Gose’s situation to Sean Doolittle’s—a former first baseman who transitioned to pitching and reached the big leagues in just a couple of years. “It’s worth investigating,” Ausmus said. “I don’t know if he still throws mid-90s, but I imagine he does.”


Pitching coach Rich Dubee was equally intrigued. He recalled Gose’s high school days when scouts described him as an “interesting kid” with electric stuff. “Evidently, he didn’t want to pitch back then,” Dubee remarked. “But we’ll see.”


Dubee also pointed out that Gose wouldn’t be the first player to swap gloves. “Look at all the catchers that pitched in the big leagues—Troy Percival, Jason Motte. They were catchers first and converted to pitching.” If Gose could harness his natural arm strength, the Tigers figured, maybe he could follow suit.





Switching from centerfield to the mound isn’t exactly the easiest career change. It’s like going from driving a bus to piloting a jet—sure, both involve moving people, but the skill set’s a little different. For Gose, though, the Tigers were willing to take a flyer. After all, they didn’t have much to lose.

Gose’s journey to the mound took a few unexpected turns, but it was one that started with a bang—literally. His debut as a pitcher came on May 22 when he took the mound for the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League, where he topped out at an impressive 99 mph. And while this was just one inning in his early pitching career, it marked the beginning of a dramatic shift from outfielder to pitcher.


After the season ended, Gose chose free agency and, on November 30, 2017, inked a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. But just two weeks later, Gose was selected by the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 draft. Unfortunately for Gose, he didn’t get a long look from Houston; by March 5, 2018, the Astros put him on waivers, and he was quickly returned to the Rangers. He spent the 2018 season splitting his time between the High-A Down East Wood Ducks and Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, making 28 appearances from the bullpen, with a 5.19 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 26 innings.


Still searching for the right fit, Gose signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians) on December 8, 2018. He spent 2019 bouncing between Double-A Akron and High-A Lynchburg, finishing with a strong 2.48 ERA, 35 strikeouts, and 4 saves in 29 innings over 32 games. A step forward, but the real test would come in 2021.


After a quiet 2020 season (thanks to the pandemic), Gose was invited to the Indians' major league spring training in 2021. This time, the 30-year-old was added to the 40-man roster and made his MLB debut as a pitcher on September 21, 2021. He was lights out in his first six appearances, posting a 1.35 ERA and striking out 9 batters in just over 6 innings.




The 2022 season started with promise, as Gose made 22 appearances for the Guardians’ bullpen. He registered a perfect 3-0 record with a 4.71 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 21 innings. But his season took a hit when, in early August, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left triceps strain. By September, Gose was on the operating table for Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2022 campaign and possibly sidelining him for most of 2023.


Despite the setbacks, Gose’s journey wasn’t over. In December 2022, the Guardians re-signed him to a two-year minor league deal, giving him a chance to recover from his surgery and return to the mound. By 2024, Gose was back, pitching for Triple-A Columbus. He had a solid season, posting a 5-4 record with a 3.29 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 10 saves in 35 appearances.


The Guardians called him up to the big leagues on August 6, 2024, but his return was short-lived. After allowing two runs in 1+1⁄3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Gose was designated for assignment. He was quickly shuffled between the active roster and the minors, enduring the rollercoaster of waiver wire transactions. Each time he cleared waivers, he’d return to Columbus, but not for long. By September 8, 2024, Gose was once again back in Cleveland, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. His appearance lasted just one inning, but that was enough for him to be designated for assignment again.


Despite the whirlwind of roster moves, Gose wasn’t done yet. After another trip through waivers, he chose free agency on October 2, 2024, signaling that, for now, his time with Cleveland was over. Through the highs, the lows, and the uncertainty, Gose’s transformation from a struggling outfielder to a legitimate pitcher remained a story of resilience. Whether it was the fastball or sheer willpower, this lefty kept coming back for more.


And just when it seemed like his journey might come full circle, Gose got a fresh opportunity. On December 20, 2024, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, marking yet another new chapter in his unconventional career. With the Mets’ reputation for taking chances on pitchers with unique paths, Gose’s resilience and raw talent could find a perfect home, as he looks to prove himself on the mound once again.


Anthony Gose's journey has been anything but conventional, proving that in baseball, sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most intriguing stories. From a speedy center fielder with promise to a pitcher who has at times shown flashes of brilliance, Gose's career trajectory exemplifies the unpredictability and perseverance that define the game. At 34, he’s not giving up on his dream of proving himself on the mound, and with the Mets giving him yet another shot, the adventure is far from over. If there's one thing we know for sure, it’s that Gose’s story will keep us watching, wondering, and maybe even cheering for his next act.


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