KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Tigers and Anthony Gose are out to prove he's far more than a fast guy who plays great defense in center field.
But it's still a work in progress, something that Gose acknowledges is work that never ends in baseball.
However, the early indications are that whatever the Tigers have changed with Gose and his swing is working.
After hitting his team-leading third triple in Friday afternoon's 12-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Kissimmee, Gose is now batting .545 with three doubles, three triples, six RBI and four stolen bases.
"Of course I'm pleased," Gose said. "Everything's positive right now but it is only spring. Things change when the lights come on."
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said with the wind blowing in, Gose had to have hit the ball hard to get it to go so far.
"He looked good," Ausmus said. "I think he was a little angry with himself a couple of at-bats later with a couple swings but overall he still continues to hit the ball well. I think he's probably being smart when he says he's not getting carried away, it's just spring training."
Tigers hitting coach Wally Joyner and assistant hitting coach David Newhan have worked with Gose on staying through the ball and not cutting off his swing.
"I think the whole thing has been a big change," Gose said. "I feel like everything's changed. Top to bottom. I think my stance is a little bit different, I think my hands are in a different spot, I think my approach is different, the way I attack the ball is different. I think everything is a little bit different."
The surprising thing is that with so much change, Gose has hardly looked overwhelmed at the plate.
What's also surprising is the consistency so far.
"He's been able to bring it back every day, which is something that he hasn't done consistently," Joyner said. "He might have it one day and then lose it for three or four. Right now he's bringing it."
Gose did not feel he was as consistent as he needed to be Friday, despite the triple and a walk.
"My last two at-bats, I cut my swing off and didn't stay through it," Gose said. "I rolled two balls over to the second baseman."
One of the things the Tigers have done is given Gose consistent playing time.
Gose's 22 at-bats are tied with Hernan Perez for most on the team.
"He feels relaxed, he doesn't have one at-bat that he has to do something," Joyner said. "He's getting three or four. And it comes again the next day, the next day. This game's about failure and how to handle failure. When you have more opportunities to succeed, then you're not going to fail as much."
If Gose is able to repeat his current swing, with his speed he could take advantage of the big gaps at Comerica Park.
Joyner believes that Gose has enough power to do so.
"I think he's a very strong, athletic, powerful hitter," Joyner said. "He works hard in the weight room. There's not an accident as to how fast he is. He works hard. He's got very strong legs, which you have to use when you hit."
Joyner said that Gose has connected well with Newhan and they've established a routine that Gose likes.
But no matter how much success Gose has had so far, neither he nor Ausmus nor the coaches are penciling Gose in for the All-Star Game.
"I'm excited for him, his success, and we're very cautious to think that he's mastered baseball," Joyner said. "There's not such a thing. I'm sure we'll be talking about what's wrong with him, hopefully not many times this year, but we go through ups and downs.
"Right now it's really nice for him. I'm happy for him."
KINSLER LATE SCRATCH
This time a Tiger didn’t even get into the game before being removed.
Ian Kinsler was a late scratch from Friday’s lineup at the Atlanta Braves.
The team said Kinsler had left shoulder soreness and is day to day.
On Wednesday, catcher Alex Avila left after one inning because of low back tightness.
On Thursday, Yoenis Cespedes left the game with left quad tightness.
Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are not ready for games yet but they're progressing in that direction.
Both players are now able to do straight-ahead sprinting.
"The next step would be turning in those sprints and running the bases," Ausmus said.
Cabrera has been taking ground balls and has steadily increased his range.
"He started out right at him and now he's kind of a step, step and a half to each side laterally," Ausmus said. "The area of ground balls that he can take has widened."
Ausmus said Miami-area resident Cabrera would accompany the team for their two games in Jupiter Sunday and Monday against the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.
Cabrera will work out with the team while Orlando-area resident Martinez will continue his rehabilitation in Lakeland.
CESPEDES UPDATE
The injury to Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes isn't considered to be serious.
But Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said someone would be coming to Lakeland to look at Cespedes, who left Thursday's game with left quad tightness after one inning.
Ausmus said he asked Cespedes Friday morning how he was feeling and Cespedes tipped his hand side to side.
"I guess that translates to so-so," Ausmus said. "They don't think it's going to be anything long-term. He's obviously not going to play today. I'd be shocked if he played tomorrow. Maybe in Jupiter."
The Tigers play the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals Sunday and Monday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.
RONDON STILL GOOD
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus did not see Bruce Rondon's spring debut but he has heard the reports.
Pitching coach Jeff Jones was very pleased with Rondon, whose first pitch 11 months out of Tommy John surgery was 97 miles per hour, followed by 98 and 100.
"I'm glad his velocity is there," Ausmus said. "I was more excited to hear that he feels fine today."
Ausmus was asked if he was surprised Rondon's velocity would still be there relatively soon after surgery.
"I guess I would have been surprised 15 years ago," Ausmus said. "I don't know that I'm that surprised anymore."
***If multimedia does not appear right away, please click refresh***
COMPLETE TIGERS SPRING TRAINING 2015 COVERAGE
