TORONTO _ Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Sunday morning he's aware of the argument outfielder Antony Gose had with Triple-A Toledo manager Lloyd McClendon on Saturday.
"I was told what happened," Ausmus said. "But I don't know the details."
The Tigers are apparently still trying to get a clear understanding of all that transpired in the first game of the Mud Hens' doubleheader sweep over Louisville.
John Wagner of the Toledo Blade reported that Gose, playing right field, seemed closer than JaCoby Jones, who was playing center field, on a catchable fly ball to right-center on the first play of Game 1. Jones tried to make a diving catch, but failed, which resulted in a triple for Tony Renda.
In the bottom of the first, Jones hit an infield popup and, according to Wagner, got a slow start running to first. Jones was pulled from the game, but eventually served as Toledo's first base coach.
Wagner reported that McClendon "got into a loud, animated dugout argument with Gose" in the middle of the third inning of the first game, and Gose was pulled from the game and banished from the dugout.
McClendon wouldn't discuss removing Gose from the game and Wagner reported Gose had cleared out his locker following the game. Gose did not play in the second game; Jones did.
Asked if he was concerned about what happened with Gose, Ausmus said: "Yeah, any time a player reacts that way to a manager, it's a concern. It's certainly not anything that can't be dealt with or gotten past."
Tigers assistant general manager David Chadd, who is in Toronto, said it was something that happened "in the heat of the moment" and he fully supports how McClendon chose to discipline his player.
David Littlefield, vice president of player development, told the Free Press in a phone interview this morning that he has a couple calls into Gose, but hasn't yet spoken to him.
Gose opted not to show up to Fifth Third Field for Toledo's 4:05 p.m. game, Littlefield said, and is not in the lineup. Littlefield said the front office will talk during the All-Star break to determine what happens next.
The Tigers traded prospect Devon Travis to the Blue Jays for Gose in November 2014. Gose played in 140 games for the Tigers in 2015, batting .254 with 73 runs scored and 23 stolen bases.
The additions of Cameron Maybin and Justin Upton left Gose as the odd man out in the outfield. He's subsequently lost playing time to prospect JaCoby Jones at Triple-A.
Gose, 25, hit .209 in 30 games with the Tigers this season. He has struggled in 50 games in Toledo, hitting .185 with 34 hits and 75 strikeouts. He's lost playing time in centerfield to Jones in Toledo.
The Tigers on Saturday announced signing Alex Presley to a minor-league deal to add organizational depth.
"Things happen in the heat of the moment," Littlefield said. "That's kind of where we're at. It happens. Nobody likes it. It's unfortunate. It happens in our business from time to time.
"Even though it happens, it's infrequent. It's not something anybody wants to have happen. You've got competitive athletes that have a lot on the line and are talented. Most of the time it's when things aren't going good."
Presley, 30, has hit .253 in 376 games in the majors over seven seasons with four different teams. He was recently released by the Brewers.
"Presley has been a part-time major leaguer and frequent Triple-A player that has had some an opportunity with a few different clubs," Littlefield. "A good defender that can run and has a little bat from time to time, but just hasn't got enough traction at the major league level to get established."
Littlefield said Presley will play today at High-A Lakeland because he hasn't played in about a week.
