NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Rose is getting closer to the game as he awaits a ruling on his reinstatement request.

Fox Sports said Saturday that it was hiring the career hits leader as a special guest analyst.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 after a Major League Baseball investigation concluded he bet on the Reds to win while managing the team.

Shortly after new Commissioner Rob Manfred took over in January, Rose applied for reinstatement.