Gose learns fast lessons during first majors stint

Flashing his electrifying speed in his first foray in the big leagues this season, Anthony Gose beat out a bunt for his first hit, legged out a broken-bat triple and had 10 stolen bases for the Blue Jays.

Other than that, the 22-year-old center fielder struggled mightily in his six-week stint with Toronto, batting .183 (15-for-82) with two RBIs and 36 strikeouts in 28 games before getting sent down Saturday to the 51s.

"I ran fast and stole bases, but overall my performance up there was just terrible," Gose said. "I went up there and I sucked, and you can't go up to the big leagues and suck."

While his performance was disappointing, Gose, Toronto's No. 2 prospect, said he isn't disappointed in himself.

"There's no reason to hang your head," he said. "I'm not the first person that's gone up there and had to come back down, and I'm not going to be the last.

"You keep your head up, keep pushing, and you'll get another opportunity."

Gose - who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs in Las Vegas' 6-5 win over Tacoma on Tuesday night at Cashman Field - soon should get another chance with Toronto, which is expected to recall him in September.

"They sent me back to get some at-bats, get my swing back to where it was feeling good, and then I'll go back and get another shot at it," he said. "I kind of lost the feel for my timing."

Gose had good timing Tuesday. He led off the first inning with a double, stole third and scored; led off the third with a single and scored; and led off the fifth with a double and scored.

The Bellflower, Calif., native is 4-for-16 in four games since returning to the 51s and is batting .290 overall with 43 RBIs, 30 steals and 81 runs in 96 games in his first Triple-A season.

An All-Star in each of his first three full professional seasons, Gose - who represented Las Vegas in the All-Star Futures Game before getting called up July 17 - has exceeded his expectations this year.

"I was hoping in the back of my mind for a September call-up, and it happened before that," he said. "It's been a great year. I have no complaints."

While it's been argued that promoting a young player to the big leagues before he's ready can shatter his confidence, Gose begs to differ.

"I don't think it does anything to your confidence," he said. "It's not fun to struggle, but people struggle in the minor leagues and get through it, and big leaguers struggle.

"... It was a great learning experience for me to go up there and not do well and get exposed to what I need to work on."

51s hitting coach Chad Mottola also doesn't buy into the theory that a premature promotion can permanently damage a player.

"All the good ones figure it out. They come down and know what they have to do, where some guys go up and maybe they weren't ever good enough to be there," he said. "I don't think they get ruined that way, by rushing guys."

Mottola is confident Gose eventually will figure it out.

"He's got a lot of mechanics he's got to worry about because he's so young and inexperienced in baseball at this level," he said. "It's going to take time."

Clearly quick on the basepaths - he had 76 steals in 2009 and 70 last season - Gose was equally fast in formulating a foolproof plan for his next trip to the majors.

"Don't suck," he said with a smile.

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