51s outfielder Lane makes pitch for return to major league roster

At 34 years old, and four years removed from his last appearance in the big leagues, 51s outfielder Jason Lane appears to be facing long odds in his quest to make it back to the majors.

But Lane isn't about to give up and has considered reinventing himself as a pitcher to bolster his bid.

"I've always thought about the end of my career, if I don't get opportunities hitting-wise, I could go back to the mound," said Lane, who earned the win for Southern California in the 1998 College World Series championship game. "I want to get up there one way or another, if it can be helping out on the mound or hitting, which I believe I can do.

"It's just a matter of getting an opportunity."

One of a select group of players in major league history to bat right-handed and throw left-handed, Lane has pitched only a handful of innings in his 13-year career but has made three relief appearances this season for Las Vegas.

He had five strikeouts in three innings of a 12-1 loss at Tacoma on July 30, hitting the low 90s on the radar gun.

"My arm feels great. I've always taken good care of it. My velocity's gone up, and I've been able to throw strikes," said Lane, who has allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings this season, with one walk and six strikeouts. "I've talked to (51s pitching coach Tom Signore) about possibly changing over at times, but it's tough because I still feel like I can swing the bat."

When Lane was drafted by Houston out of USC in the sixth round in 1999, he said the Astros told him if he didn't succeed as a position player, they'd consider putting him on the mound.

But Lane hit well enough to reach the majors as an outfielder and played parts of six seasons for Houston from 2002 to 2007.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pounder batted .267 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs in 2005, when he went deep in his first postseason at-bat and also homered in the World Series.

But his average dipped to .201 in 2006 and .178 in 2007, when he last played in the big leagues.

Lane has played for Las Vegas the past three seasons. He hit .323 in 42 games last year and, despite sporadic playing time this season, is batting .293 with six homers and 26 RBIs in 48 games.

On Thursday, Lane launched a towering two-run homer and had a season-high five RBIs in the 51s' 17-10 win over Oklahoma City, the top affiliate of the Astros.

"I still know some guys over there, and you just want to show them you can still play," said Lane, who didn't play in Friday's 6-5 win over the RedHawks at Cashman Field. "I still feel like I can play up there. I still feel like I have a lot left. I feel like I have unfinished business."

While the odds appear stacked against Lane returning to the majors as a pitcher at his age, Signore said he brings plenty of positives to the mound and could be used as a situational reliever.

"He throws three pitches for strikes, and his delivery and arm speed are the same on all of them," he said. "He's always kept himself in very good condition, and that's half the battle.

"He's just got to find a team willing to give him an opportunity in spring training."

■ NOTE -- The Toronto Blue Jays signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin and assigned him to Las Vegas. Gaudin, 28, was 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in 10 appearances for the Washington Nationals this season.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.