| Jon Gray | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Gray with theColorado Rockies in 2019 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-11-05)November 5, 1991 (age 34) Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 4, 2015, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 75–71 |
| Earned run average | 4.49 |
| Strikeouts | 1,223 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jonathan Charles Gray (born November 5, 1991) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theColorado Rockies andTexas Rangers.
Gray playedcollege baseball forEastern Oklahoma State College and theUniversity of Oklahoma. The Rockies chose Gray with the third pick in the2013 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2015. After pitching for the Rockies through the 2021 season, Gray signed with the Rangers as afree agent before the 2022 season.
Jonathan Charles "Jon" Gray was born on November 5, 1991, inShawnee, Oklahoma. AttendingChandler High School inChandler, Oklahoma, Gray playedbaseball,basketball, andfootball for the Lions, focusing on baseball his senior year.[1] That year, he was named the Little All-City Player of the Year byThe Oklahoman and was named to the All-State Team.[2]
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TheKansas City Royals selected Gray in the 13th round of the2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, but he did not sign.[2]Oklahoma Sooners baseball coachSunny Golloway encouraged Gray to enroll atEastern Oklahoma State College, ajunior college inWilburton, Oklahoma, where he could continue to gain experience as astarting pitcher, as he would be used as arelief pitcher if he were to join the Sooners that season.[1]
For Eastern Oklahoma, Gray pitched to a 6–2win–loss record and a 2.89earned run average (ERA).[3] TheNew York Yankees drafted him in the 10th round of the2011 MLB draft and offered him $500,000 to sign, but he instead opted to transfer to the University of Oklahoma.[4] In his sophomore year at Oklahoma, Gray compiled a 3.16 ERA and 104strikeouts in102+2⁄3innings pitched.[1]
As a junior, Gray was named theBig 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week three times.[5] He had a 10–3 win–loss record, a 1.64 ERA, and 147 strikeouts in126+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was a first teamAll-American and a unanimous choice for the All-Big 12 team.[3] He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the2013 Big 12 Conference baseball tournament, as Oklahoma won the tournament for the first time since 1997.[6] Gray also won theNational Pitcher of the Year Award.[7]
Gray was expected to be among the first players chosen in the2013 MLB draft, and was considered by theHouston Astros, who had thefirst overall pick.[2][8] TheColorado Rockies picked him with the third pick. Gray signed with the Rockies, receiving a $4.8 millionsigning bonus, which was below the recommended slot value for the pick.[9] Gray made his professional debut with theGrand Junction Rockies of theRookie-levelPioneer League in July,[10] before receiving a promotion to theModesto Nuts of theHigh–ACalifornia League later in the month.[11] For Modesto, Gray pitched to a 0.75 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 24 innings.[12]
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The Rockies invited Gray tospring training in 2014.[13] They assigned him to theTulsa Drillers of theDouble–ATexas League for the 2014 season.[14] He pitched to a 10–5 record, a 3.91 ERA, and 113 strikeouts in124+1⁄3 innings. He missed the first round of the Texas League playoffs due to a tired shoulder.[15] The Rockies invited Gray to spring training in 2015.[16] They assigned him to theAlbuquerque Isotopes of theTriple–APacific Coast League to start the 2015 season.[17] Gray pitched to a 6–6 win–loss record with a 4.33 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 21 games, including a 2.70 ERA in his last six starts.[18]
Gray made his major league debut with the Rockies on August 4, 2015.[18] Focusing on hisfastball andslider, Gray pitched to a 0–2 record and a 5.53 ERA in nine starts for the Rockies. During the 2015–16 offseason, Gray worked to add acurveball.[19]
Gray missed the beginning of the 2016 season due to a strained abdominal muscle.[20] On May 13, Gray earned his first career major league win in a 5–2 victory over theNew York Mets.[21] He finished the 2016 season with a 10–10 record, a 4.61 ERA,[22] and 185 strikeouts in 168 innings pitched.[23]
In 2017, the Rockies named Gray theirOpening Day starting pitcher.[23] He went on thedisabled list in April with astress fracture in his left foot.[24] On July 5, Gray hit his first career home run off ofCincinnati Reds pitcherScott Feldman, which measured 467 feet (142 m).[25] Gray finished the season winning 10 games in 20 starts and a 3.67 ERA. Gray started for the Rockies in the2017 National League Wild Card Game,[26] which the Rockies lost to theArizona Diamondbacks.[27]
Gray started for the Rockies on Opening Day in 2018, but he began the 2018 season with a 5.77 ERA in his first 17 starts. On June 20, 2018, he was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.[28] He was recalled on July 13.[29] Gray ended the regular season with a 5.12 ERA and 27 home runs allowed. The Rockies did not include Gray on their postseason roster for the2018 National League Division Series.[30] In August 2019, Gray's season ended due to the diagnosis of a stress fracture in his left foot. In 2019, he had an 11–8 record and a 3.84 ERA in 25 starts.[31] In 2020, Gray's season was cut short due to right shoulder inflammation as he pitched in only eight starts. He finished with a 2–4 record and a 6.69 ERA.[32]
In 2021, Gray posted an ERA of 4.59 in 29 starts. He struck out 157 batters in 149 innings. After the season, the Rockies opted not to make aqualifying offer of $18.4 million for the 2022 season to Gray, and he became afree agent.[33]
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On December 1, 2021, Gray signed a four-year, $56 million contract with theTexas Rangers.[34] He started for the Rangers on Opening Day,[35] but developed ablister on his right middle finger during the game and went on theinjured list the next day.[36] He returned to make his second start for Texas on April 19, and went back on the injured list with a sprainedmedial collateral ligament in his left knee.[37] Over 24 games for Texas in 2022, Gray posted a 7–7 record with a 3.96 ERA and 134 strikeouts over127+1⁄3 innings.[38]
Gray started 29 games for the Rangers during the 2023 campaign, compiling a 9-8 record and 4.12 ERA with 142 strikeouts across157+1⁄3 innings pitched. Gray pitched three scoreless innings in relief in Game 3 of the2023 World Series, earning the win.
Gray started the 2024 season off well but was removed from a game on May 21[39] and was later diagnosed with a mild right groin strain, landing on the 15-day injured list on May 23.[40] On June 8, he was activated from the injured list[41] but was later removed from a game on July 28[42] and placed on the 15-day injured list on July 29 with a right groin strain.[43] On August 20, he was reinstated from the injured list,[44] only to be placed back on the list on September 3, when managerBruce Bochy revealed that both he andTyler Mahle would miss the remainder of the 2024 season.[45] Gray finished his 2024 season, pitching in 23 games (19 starts) to an ERA of 4.47, and recorded a record of 5-6. Over102+2⁄3 innings, he had 86 strikeouts while walking only 28.
On March 14, 2025, Gray suffered a broken right wrist after being hit by aMichael Toglia line drive during a spring training game against theColorado Rockies.[46] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list to begin the season on March 18.[47] Gray was activated for his season debut on July 23.[48] On August 14, Gray was placed on waivers by Texas; he subsequently went unclaimed and remained with the team.[49] In six total appearances for the team, he struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 1-1 record with 12 strikeouts over 14 innings of work. On August 17, Gray was placed on the injured list due tothoracic outlet syndrome.[50]
Jon Gray is married to middle school sweetheart, Jacklyn.[51] Gray’s father, Jack Gray, was a baseball player at Chandler High and later joined theUnited States military.[52] His brother, Jack, played linebacker atNortheastern State University, and is currently one of the football coaches for their high school in Chandler. His sister, Brooke, played softball for Chandler and had also played forBarton Community College.[1]
