Royals Sign 35-Year-Old Anthony Gose: What He Brings to Kansas City
The Kansas City Royals have signed left-handed pitcher Anthony Gose to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Omaha, where he will join the Storm Chasers.
Kansas City’s bullpen has been a major concern early in the 2026 season, entering Tuesday with a 5.75 ERA—the second-worst in MLB behind Houston. Outside of solid outings from Daniel Lynch IV, the bullpen has struggled to find consistency.
From Outfielder to Pitcher
Gose’s career path is unusual, having transitioned from outfielder to pitcher later in his professional journey. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 as an outfielder, he made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays four years later. After three seasons in Toronto and two with the Detroit Tigers, Gose returned to his high school roots as a pitcher.
His MLB pitching debut came in 2021 with the Cleveland Guardians—ironically, against the Royals—where he hit triple digits on his fastball and struck out Salvador Perez, who was in the midst of a 48-home run season. Since then, Gose has pitched 32 innings in the majors, recording a 4.78 ERA with 41 strikeouts and a 1.34 WHIP.
Gose’s fastball has been a weapon throughout his pitching career, averaging 99.3 mph with a 37.5% strikeout rate in 2021. In 2022, he maintained a 97 mph average, with a 30.4% strikeout rate and a 33.5% whiff rate. However, command has been his biggest challenge, as evidenced by a 15.2% walk rate in 2022.
In September 2022, Gose underwent Tommy John surgery, which contributed to a drop in velocity when he returned in 2024, bringing his fastball down to an average of 95.7 mph.
The Royals have shown they aren’t afraid of older players—last season, they called up 45-year-old Rich Hill—and Gose now has a chance to make an impact in a bullpen that’s desperate for reliable arms. This signing gives him an opportunity to prove what he can contribute to the team.
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