Ex-MLB outfielder Anthony Gose primed to make return as pitcher with Cleveland, per reports

Anthony Gose last saw MLB action on May 15, 2016. 

The next time he suits up he'll have completed a comeback from position player to pitcher, and that appearance seems imminent; Cleveland promoted the 31-year-old left-hander to the majors, per multiple reports on Monday. 

Gose was a second-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Bellflower High School (California) in 2008. He made his major league debut four years later with the Toronto Blue Jays, who acquired him at the 2010 trade deadline in a three-team deal involving the Houston Astros for Roy Oswalt.

An outfielder, Gose spent three seasons in Toronto before being traded to the Detroit Tigers. He was the Tigers' everyday outfielder in 2015 and hit .209 in 101 plate appearances the following season. 

Gose first made the transition to pitcher in 2017 while still in the Tigers organization, starting at the Class A Advanced level. The Texas Rangers took him in the Rule 5 Draft that offseason and he surrendered 15 earned runs over 26 innings between Class A Advanced and Class AA. 

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Cleveland signed him ahead of the 2019 season, and despite command struggles – 29 walks in 29 innings – he posted a 2.48 ERA across 32 outings. 

The pandemic prohibited minor league baseball in 2020, but Gose started the year with Class AAA Columbus. Since he wasn't on the 40-man roster this summer, Gose pitched for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics as a lefty specialist. In four appearances (5 ⅓ innings), Gose gave up one hit and one walk and was named to the All-World team as the U.S. took silver. Gose's fastball velocity sat in the mid-90s.

Gose surrendered a solo homer in his first game back with Columbus but hasn't allowed a run in 11 straight outings. He has a 3.55 ERA with 28 walks and 49 strikeouts over 33 frames in 2021.

Cleveland (73-74) has 15 games remaining this season. 

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.