Cubs speedster Gore wreaks havoc on basepaths

The track and field coach at Jones County High School in Gray, Georgia, used to beg Terrance Gore to walk over to the track, just below a hill from the baseball diamond.

"Come down the hill, just one time," the coach used to say.

Gore never made it down the hill. Track and field season conflicted with baseball. Plus, back then, Gore dealt with nagging hamstring problems.

It's hard to blame the track coach, though. Gore, a recent Chicago Cubs addition, might be the fastest man in baseball.

"I think he's the fastest guy that's ever played," said teammate Ian Happ, dead serious.

Happ, whose locker is next to Gore's in the clubhouse, referenced a stolen base Sept. 6 at Washington when MLB's Statcast clocked Gore's top speed at 31.4 feet per second. It might not be the fastest ever, but it would place Gore among baseball's best if he had enough opportunities to qualify on Statcast's sprint speed leaderboard.

The 5-foot-7, 165-pound Gore is essentially a designated pinch runner. Since joining the Cubs when rosters expanded Sept. 1, the 27-year-old is 5-for-5 stealing bases. He played in parts of five MLB seasons, more than 50 career games, before he collected his first big league hit last week - an oddity that's possible only because he rarely steps to the plate (18 plate appearances in 58 career games). He has stolen 26 bases in his regular season career, while being caught four times.

Gore became a fan favorite in Kansas City as a member of the Royals' 2014 and 2015 World Series runs. He stole 4 bases and scored two runs during those postseasons, all as a pinch runner.

The Cubs acquired Gore from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations in August. Gore's new teammates were well aware of his capabilities and the weapon he provides their club.

"There's going to be some havoc on the bases when he's out there," outfielder Kyle Schwarber said. "Especially later in the game when you've got to get a guy in scoring position."

Schwarber said the first time Gore stole a base with the Cubs, teammates were wowed in the dugout.

"He came in and was like, 'Man, I got a terrible jump,' " Schwarber said. "I'm like, 'What?' He made that look really easy."

Happ called Gore's speed "incredible." Happ and Schwarber both remember watching Gore during Royals playoff runs.

"He's seen winning teams, which is good," Happ said. "And he's really good at what he does. … Down the stretch here, we're going to need that kind of run late, whether it puts us up more or gets us back in the game, he's got that for us."

Gore never thought he would play the role he has for the Royals, and now the Cubs.

"I didn't think I would be a major leaguer," Gore said. "I just played the game because it was fun."

At Jones County, Gore piled up more than 1,000 yards rushing as a senior on the football team. Division I colleges sent letters and inquired about him. Gore never liked the physicality of football. He hated taking hits.

"That's probably why I was so good: I avoided getting hit," Gore said. "I would just outrun everybody."

The track coach never did tear him away from the baseball diamond. Gore played one baseball season at Golf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida, before the Royals drafted him in the 20th round in 2011.

The vast majority of Gore's MLB appearances have come in September, when rosters expand to 40. His bat likely holds him back the rest of the season. In the minor leagues, Gore is a career .239 hitter in 1,924 at bats with 471 strikeouts.

Those aren't numbers that scream: major league baseball player. This number, however, does: 90.2 percent success rate stealing bases in the minors (293 steals in 325 attempts).

Gore spends anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour before every series studying the opponent's pitchers. He studies late-inning relievers and starters he thinks might go deep into games.

"I just try to get a decent jump," Gore said. "I just let my legs take over the rest of the way. Trust what you see. Let your eyes move your feet. That's what we preached at the Royals."

Now that he's on a team in the hunt for October again, there will likely come a time when the spotlight shines on Gore. Cubs manager Joe Maddon will call on Gore in the late innings of a close ballgame with a runner on first base.

Everyone in the ballpark will know what Gore is trying to do. Cubs fans might boo as the opposing pitcher throws repeated pickoff attempts. The ballpark will hold its collective breath when Gore takes off for second base, and it becomes a test of speed - Gore's legs vs. the catcher's arm.

"I don't want to let anybody down," Gore said. "I know what my job is here, but I don't want to fail anybody. That's like my biggest fear. I'm not perfect, I'm human. … That's why I work my butt off every day."