| Gabe Gross | |
|---|---|
 Gross with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 | |
| Auburn Tigers | |
| Outfielder /Coach | |
| Born: (1979-10-21)October 21, 1979 (age 45) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 7, 2004, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2010, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .239 |
| Home runs | 40 |
| Runs batted in | 186 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Gabriel Jordan Gross (born October 21, 1979) is an American former professional baseballoutfielder who is currently the hitting coach for theAuburn Tigers.
His father,Lee Gross, was center for the Auburn Tigers and in theNFL. His brother, Bo Gross, played football forTexas Christian University.
Gross played football, basketball, and baseball atNorthview High School inDothan, Alabama. Formerly a startingquarterback for theAuburn football team, and an outfielder for the Auburn baseball team, Gross was drafted by theToronto Blue Jays in the first round (15th overall) of the2001 Major League Baseball Draft. Promoted fromTriple-ASyracuse on August 7, 2004, he saw limited duty against left-handedpitching.
On September 5, 2004, he belted his first major leaguehome run, a grand slam offOakland Athletics pitcherJustin Duchscherer.[1] Hisoutfield range was very good, and he had a strong arm. In 38 games, he collected 73putouts with fiveassists and onedouble play in 78total chances, for a perfect 1.000fielding percentage.
On December 7, 2005, Gross was traded by the Blue Jays to theMilwaukee Brewers, along with pitchersDave Bush andZach Jackson, in exchange for first basemanLyle Overbay and pitching prospectTy Taubenheim.[2]
Gross made his debut with the Brewers on April 4, 2006, and hit apinch-hit home run to give the Brewers a victory over thePittsburgh Pirates.[3]
At the beginning of the 2006 season with the Brewers, he obtained the nickname "the Southern Gentleman" for his politeness and well-mannered attitude both on and off the field.
The plan was to have him share time withTony Gwynn Jr. andGabe Kapler in center field in2008 whileMike Cameron served his 25-game suspension.[4] With a focus on defense, manager Ned Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross.[5]
Gross was traded to theTampa Bay Rays on April 22, 2008, for pitching prospectJosh Butler.[6]
Gross finished the 2008 season batting .243, with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.
On December 12, 2009, Gross was non-tendered by the Rays. On February 1, 2010, Gross signed withOakland Athletics to a one-year contract.[7] Gross signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with theSeattle Mariners on February 5, 2011.[8] He was released on March 26. On April 23, he signed a minor league contract with theFlorida (nowMiami)Marlins.
Gross retired on April 26, 2011.[9]