The Kansas City Royals added a left-handed pitcher to the organization on Tuesday.
The Kansas City Royals have continued to look for ways to strengthen organizational bullpen depth as they prepare for Tuesday’s matchup against the Athletics. Kansas City has been one of the most disappointing teams in the American League to open the 2026 season, entering Tuesday with some momentum though after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. They still sit at 11-17.
The front office has been aggressive in adding pitching help wherever possible. With the bullpen still searching for reliable arms, the Royals made a move on Tuesday to bolster their potential options. “We have signed LHP Anthony Gose to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to Omaha,” wrote the Raising Royals on X.
Gose is one of the more unique players in baseball. The 35-year-old originally reached the majors as an outfielder, playing parts of five seasons in the big leagues before transitioning back to pitching in 2017 when his offensive production began to fade.
Since then, he has spent time on the mound in the minor-league systems of the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians, Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets. The Guardians are the only team to bring him to the majors as a pitcher, doing so in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Across 32 innings on the mound, Gose has shown elite velocity but inconsistent command, posting a 4.78 ERA in limited action.
Last season, Gose split time between the Triple-A affiliates of the Mets and Diamondbacks. This past offseason, he signed in the Mexican League, and that is where he caught the Royals attention.
Gose opened the 2026 season with 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and no walks while striking out 15. That level of dominance, even in a small sample, was enough for Kansas City to take a chance on him.
For now, Gose will report to Triple A Omaha, where the Royals will evaluate whether his recent success can translate against higher-level hitters. He will not jump straight into the major-league bullpen, but given Kansas City’s struggles in relief this season, a strong showing in the minors could put him on the radar quickly.
The Royals have been searching for any spark they can find in the bullpen, and adding an experienced left-hander with upside is a low-risk move. If Gose proves his early-season form is real, he could become another helpful piece for a Kansas City team trying to make a return to the MLB playoffs.