Gose completes journey from outfield to bullpen
CLEVELAND — During the time the Guardians were setting the team’s opening day roster, Anthony Gose was keeping a low profile — at least until he knew he’d break camp with the big league club.
Manager Terry Francona passed him one day at the team’s facility and asked Gose how he was doing. Gose’s response: “I’m just trying to hide.”
Francona found him the next day and informed him, “You don’t have to hide from anybody, man.”
The Guardians certainly aren’t hiding him from opposing teams. Gose’s role has evolved into that of a high-leverage reliever. After a six-year career as an outfielder, Gose made it back to the major leagues late last year, this time as a pitcher. He logged 62⁄3 innings, and the team said he needed work. Gose clearly possessed major league stuff, including a high-90s fastball, but he was a bit raw as a pitching prospect despite being in his 30s.
His role now, though, is not that of a reliever working low-leverage innings or pitching in mop-up duty in blowout losses. He isn’t the last reliever to make the roster, not by a long shot.
On Wednesday, Gose entered the game in the biggest spot for the Guardians this season. The Chicago White Sox had two runners in scoring position with only one out. Triston Mckenzie took a no-hitter into the fifth, but two walks and a double had the Guardians clinging to a 2-1 lead.
Enter Gose, who struck out Josh Harrison and Adam Haseley to end the inning. The White Sox never put a ball in play. Gose then worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning with two more strikeouts. The Guardians held on to win 2-1, which ensured the Guardians will enter the weekend with at least a share of top spot in the American League Central.
Francona said this spring they viewed Gose as a potential ‘weapon.’ On Wednesday, that came to fruition.
“That was fun to watch,” Francona said. “I think everybody knows how
fond we are of the kid and how much we’re pulling for him.“
Gose’s journey has been a lengthy one. He worked his way through the minor leagues with three different organizations before finally returning to the majors. He gained some additional experience in winter ball and carried that into this spring. That experience has manifested itself, primarily, in the use of his slider, which was needed to complement his fastball.
Gose threw 15 fastballs (he hit 98 mph) and nine sliders Wednesday night, generating four swings and four misses with the latter.
“It’s huge. Can’t just do it with a fastball, I’ve learned that,” Gose said. “Even in the minor leagues, I wasn’t able to just do it with a fastball. I’ve had to have something else to throw. I’ve worked on this the last couple of years and in the offseason, so it’s been good.”
The season is still young, but Gose got the biggest outs for the Guardians this year. Gose certainly isn’t hiding from anybody now.
Ramirez sets franchise record
Jose Ramirez’s grand slam against the White Sox Wednesday was his second in the team’s first 10 games, making him the first player in club history and ninth in baseball history to accomplish that feat, according to Elias. Ramirez is also one of only two players to hit at least one grand slam from each side of the plate within the first 10 games of a season, joining Todd Hundley in 1995.