Gross played football, basketball, and baseball at
Northview High School in
Dothan, Alabama. Formerly a starting
quarterback for the
Auburn football team, and an outfielder for the Auburn baseball team, Gross was drafted by the
Toronto Blue Jays in the first round (15th overall) of the
2001 Major League Baseball draft. Promoted from
Triple-A Syracuse on August 7, 2004, he saw limited duty against left-handed
pitching. On September 5, 2004, he belted his first major league
home run, a grand slam off
Oakland Athletics pitcher
Justin Duchscherer. His
outfield range was very good, and he had a strong arm. In 38 games, he collected 73
putouts with five
assists and one
double play in 78
total chances, for a perfect 1.000
fielding percentage. On December 7, 2005, Gross was traded by the Blue Jays to the
Milwaukee Brewers, along with pitchers
Dave Bush and
Zach Jackson, in exchange for first baseman
Lyle Overbay and pitching prospect
Ty Taubenheim. Gross made his debut with the Brewers on April 4, 2006, and hit a
pinch-hit home run to give the Brewers a victory over the
Pittsburgh Pirates. 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 with
Tony Gwynn Jr. and
Gabe Kapler in center field in while
Mike Cameron served his 25-game suspension. With a focus on defense, manager Ned Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross. Gross was traded to the
Tampa Bay Rays on April 22, 2008, for pitching prospect
Josh Butler. 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 with
Oakland Athletics to a one-year contract. Gross signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the
Seattle Mariners on February 5, 2011. He was released on March 26. On April 23, he signed a minor league contract with the
Florida (now
Miami)
Marlins. Gross retired on April 26, 2011. ==References==