Sonny Gray
| Sonny Gray | |
|---|---|
 Gray in August 2013 | |
| Oakland Athletics – No. 54 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: November 7, 1989 Nashville, Tennessee | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| July 10, 2013, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Career statistics (through April 28, 2014) | |
| Win–loss record | 9–4 |
| Earned run average | 2.31 |
| Strikeouts | 104 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Sonny Douglas Gray (born November 7, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. He was a first-round draft pick by the Athletics in the 2011 MLB Draft.[1]
Early life
Sonny was born in Nashville, Tennessee to Cindy and Jesse Gray and spent his entire childhood growing up in his hometown of Smyrna, Tennessee. Jesse died in a car accident during Sonny's freshman year of high school, just as Sonny started playing baseball for Smyrna High School.
Amateur career
Smyrna High School (2004-2008)
As a freshman, he pitched and played left field and was named Freshman of the Year in District 9AAA. As a sophomore, he suffered injuries and saw limited action during the season. As a junior, he led his team to the 2007 State Tournament with a masterful 11–2 record and a 0.95 ERA. This earned him a nod for the AFLAC All-American High School Baseball Classic and a nomination for National Player of the Year (which Tim Melville ultimately won). As a senior, he dominated once again, going 4–0 with a 0.79 ERA. However, he was injured in a district game against Hendersonville in April 2008 and never played again. He also excelled at the plate, batting over .500 his last two seasons at Smyrna, but instead opted to pitch in college.
In addition to his success on the mound, he also played quarterback for Smyrna's football team, guiding them to back-to-back 5A State titles in 2006 and 2007. He was voted Gatorade Player of the Year by The Tennessean in 2007 and 2008 for his overall athletic success.
Having already made a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt University before Smyrna's state tournament run, he was drafted in the 27th round by the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 MLB Draft. He did not sign with the team.
Vanderbilt University (2008-2011)
As a freshman at Vanderbilt, he began as a relief pitcher, earning four saves before moving to a starter's role late in the season. Although posting a 4.30 ERA, he improved over the next two years. He was designated as the ace of Vandy's staff in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, he went 10-5 with a 3.48 ERA, but lead the team in strikeouts (113). Sonny's junior year was his most successful, as he went 12-4 with a 2.43 ERA and 132 Ks. He also helped Vandy earn their first ever College World Series birth, making it to the semifinals and losing to national runner-up Florida.
Sonny elected to forgo his senior year at Vanderbilt and entered the draft. He was selected 18th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2011 MLB Draft and was signed for $1.54 million signing bonus.
Professional career
Minor League Baseball (2011-2013)
Gray, after being drafted, was optioned to the Athletics' Double-A affiliate, the Midland RockHounds, where he posted an 0.45 ERA in 5 games, all of which were games that he started.
The next year, Gray again began his season at Double-A, despite his masterful performance the season before. There, he posted a 4.14 ERA before being promoted to Triple-A Sacramento RiverCats, where he struggled to the tune of a 9.00 ERA in a single start.[2]
To start the 2013 season, Gray returned to the RiverCats, where he posted a 2.81 ERA and was selected to start the Triple-A All-Star Game for the Pacific Coast League.
Oakland Athletics (2013-present)
2013 season
On July 10, 2013, Gray was called up to replace Dan Straily, who had been optioned to Triple-A.[3] He made his first major league appearance out of the bullpen, in relief of Jerry Blevins, against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Gray pitched two innings, tallying three strikeouts and allowing a single hit. He did not allow a run, nor a walk. Gray made a second relief appearance nine days later in Anaheim but was then sent back down to the minors.
Gray was recalled again by the A's on August 10, and made his first Major League start against Mark Buehrle and the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto.[4] This was supposed to be just a spot start in Tommy Milone's place in the rotation after Milone's struggles and subsequent option down to Triple-A Sacramento. However, Gray has since become a fixture in the A's rotation as the fifth starter.
Gray's first Major League win came against Erik Bedard and the Houston Astros in his home debut. He pitched 8 shutout innings to earn a 5-0 win.
On September 22, Gray pitched and won the AL West Division-clinching game against the Minnesota Twins in an 11-7 A's victory. He finished the regular season, going 5-3 in 12 games (10 starts) with a 2.67 ERA, striking out 67 in 64 innings.
On October 5, Gray started Game 2 of the American League Division Series against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers. In a no-decision effort, he pitched 8 scoreless innings before a 9th inning walk-off hit by Stephen Vogt resulted in a 1-0 Oakland win.[5] In a surprise move, Gray was elected to start Game 5 over Bartolo Colón. Facing Justin Verlander, Gray pitched 5+ innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs, getting the loss in the 3-0 game.[6]
2014 season
Despite not having previously been on an Opening Day roster, Gray made his first career Opening Day start on March 31, 2014 against the Cleveland Indians.
References
- ^ "A's Select RHP Sonny Gray in First Round of 2011 First-Year Player Draft | oaklandathletics.com: Official Info". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ "Sonny Gray". Sports-Reference. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ "A's select RHP Gray from Sacramento; option RHP Straily to Sacramento". Oakland A's Press Release. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ Jarosh, Noah (August 10, 2013). "Athletics recall Sonny Gray to be part of rotation". Retrieved August 10, 2013.
- ^ "Phenomenal Pitching Put Vogt in Position to Even ALDS". CBS Sacramento. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
- ^ "A's Go Down Meekly in Game Five Again, Lose 3-0 to Tigers". CBS San Francisco. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- VU Commodores.com
- MLB.com
- Sonny Gray