One year ago, Josiah Gray went through the growing pains of being an MLB pitcher. Gray allowed 38 home runs — most in MLB and issued 66 walks — the most in the National League. Now 25 years old, Gray’s effort in the first half of the season has earned his first MLB All-Star Game nod.
Gray is the Nationals’ lone All-Star representative. Nats manager Dave Martinez announced the accomplishment in front of the team before Sunday’s series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Gray got emotional and delivered a heartfelt message to his teammates in response.
This season, he’s posted a 3.30 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP with 86 strikeouts through 17 starts. He has been a road warrior, allowing more than three runs in just one of his 11 road starts.
Gray has a 2.39 ERA on the road. Opposing batters are hitting .236/.313/.343 on him away from Nationals Park. He’s ascended to being the most consistent Nats’ pitcher. He allowed just one run in two starts, both wins, during the Nats’ 6-3 road trip.
The Nats acquired Gray in 2021 from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a trade for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner.
Last year, there were questions about whether he was a long-term option. Those questions appeared silly in his first season in the Majors. They seem more silly now that he is an All-Star.
Gray has expanded his pitch arsenal this year. A cutter is the most glaring addition for Gray. By doing so, he’s become less predictable. He has thrown less fastballs from last year, 43% to 34.4% of his pitches.
Gray has a lower ERA than Scherzer (3.87). Scherzer has given up one more home run 13 than Gray despite making three fewer starts and pitching 19 fewer innings. By the way, Scherzer did not get named to the All-Star Game.
Scherzer is one of the greatest baseball pitchers ever. But at 38 years old, the Nationals would take Gray over Scherzer, whose salary is too steep for a player that may be winding down. Gray’s emotions when he found out the news represented a lot. He’s the first guy the Nats acquired when the team kickstarted its rebuild.
Gray appears to be settling into a starring role. He’s the pace car of a revamped rotation that includes MacKenzie Gore and Jarlin Susana, two prospects the Nats acquired in the Juan Soto trade, and a pair of first-round picks, Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge.
Gray’s All-Star nod stamps general manager Mike Rizzo’s credibility with the team’s scouting department. There’s a long road ahead, but getting the first guy right validates the Nats moving forward.
