Josiah Gray Graduates From College Summa Cum Laude: No Wonder His Baseball IQ Is So High

Josiah Gray Graduates From College Summa Cum Laude: No Wonder His Baseball IQ Is So High

by | May 28, 2024 | THE THREE SPOT

BOSTON – It’s been quite a while since Josiah Gray has been on a Big League mound, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been putting in the work.

 

On May 20th, Gray posted on his social media that he had earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics from Le Moyne College in New York. He got his degree with Summa Cum Laude honors, meaning that he had a grade point average of around 3.9-4.0, and he was in the top 5% of students in the graduating class.

 

 

“Sometimes plans take a little longer than you expect… but in the process, dreams come true. I’m grateful to finish what I started 9 years ago,” Gray said on X when announcing his achievement. 

 

Where Is Josiah Gray From?

 

Gray was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York, going to the local high school, and then accepting his one and only scholarship offer for the Dolphins of Le Moyne College. He played there for his first three years, improving significantly each season, and then left school early to be drafted in the second round, 72nd overall in the 2018 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

 

He was with the Reds for about six months, but in December of 2018, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the centerpiece of a return trade package that sent him, Homer Bailey, and Jeter Downs to the west coast in exchange for veterans Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, and Kyle Farmer.

 

There’s A Brother On The Rubber In LA | Josiah Gray Time For The Dodgers

 

He would work in the Dodgers farm system for the next two and a half seasons, before making his debut for the Boys in Blue on July 20th, 2021 against the San Francisco Giants.

 

Josiah Gray Traded Several Times Before Finding Home In DC

 

He only suited up in the Dodger blue for less than two weeks, because on July 30th, he was once again the centerpiece of a return package, now being sent to Washington, D.C. to the Nationals with Keibert Ruiz, Gerardo Carrillo, and Donovan Casey for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner.

He’s been with the Nationals ever since, consistently improving his ERA each and every year. In 2023, he earned his first All-Star honors, and had a sub-4 ERA for the first time in his career, and has slowly become the ace of a young and rebuilding Nationals team.

 

Josiah Gray Has Had Injury-Plagued 2024

 

It’s been a rough start to say the least for Gray in 2024, as he’s only made two starts, but lost both of them. He went less than five innings in both starts, and has given up a total of 13 runs, with a 14.04 ERA. On April 9th, Gray was put on the IL with a right flexor strain in his elbow, and he’s been on the shelf ever since.

 

He has been making steady progress, as he was able to throw in a simulated game over the weekend at Nationals Park. Everything went well, but Gray will need a couple of more simulated games/rehab starts before he can make his return to game action, which the team is hoping can be around mid-June.

 

 

Whenever his return may be, he will be welcomed back with open arms. When he’s on top of his game, it’s very hard to stop him.

Game Recognize Game: The Future Is Bright For Black Baseball

Game Recognize Game: The Future Is Bright For Black Baseball

by | Apr 2, 2024 | THE LEAD OFF

 

Opening Day should be a time for all fans to celebrate, but with the disappointing percentage of MLBbros in the game (less than 7 percent) it has also become a somber moment for Black fans clamoring for a resurgence of Black players to climb toward numbers we’ve seen in the past. 

Per last season’s official numbers released by MLB, American-born Black players made up 6.2 percent of all players, the lowest we have seen since 1955. While there has been an explosion of Afro-Latino and Caribbean-born players throughout the league, the amount of American Black players continues to dwindle.

 

Numbers Low, But Black Baseball Spirit Is High

 

Despite the overall decline, the idea that baseball is dead in Black communities across America couldn’t be further from the truth. As we continue to place a spotlight on Black ball players past and present, it’s imperative that we remind fans that the future of Black baseball is beaming with elite talent.

That brings us to Mookie and those Dodgers. Loaded with what on paper is easily the most star-studded roster in baseball, LA can credit Betts for having made the biggest impact on the field so far for the club, and he is in position to once again make history. From a new position.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts shocked some when he announced that not only would Mookie be moving to the infield this season, but he would also be the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop. Now officially at the position he has always wanted to play, Mookie is poised to continue his climb up the all-time list. 

Atlanta is another powerhouse that has an MLBbro poised to take the leap into superstardom. Outfielder Michael Harris II has been a staple in center for Atlanta, and the Decatur, Georgia native has not disappointed. Harris shook off a slow start last year to once again posted solid numbers for Atlanta while playing a Gold Glove caliber centerfield. 

If Harris makes the leap many expect, the collision course Atlanta and Los Angeles are seemingly destined for would become a foregone conclusion.   

Josiah Gray and CJ Abrams have started the revival in Chocolate City, and this season more bros are headed to help the Nationals climb back into the battle for NL East.  Trey Lipscomb is another young bro you should know. Lipscomb announced his presence in the Nats lineup with an opposite-field bomb over the weekend and is looking to stick around long-term.

 

 

Down in Miami, center fielder Jazz Chisohm Jr. and Josh Bell have another MLBbro joining their ranks, with former batting champ Tim Anderson relocating to Little Havana in search of a career reboot. If a change of scenery was really all Anderson needed, look for Miami to compete with Philly for a wild card spot.

 

Ke’Bryan Hayes has been one of the crown jewels in Pittsburgh’s roster overhaul, and soon he will have a young phenom next to him in the infield. Termarr Johnson should be up before the season is out. Scouts have raved about him and he’s looked every bit of the professional hitter he was dubbed when selected.

 

St. Louis may not be the juggernaut they once were, but their roster is equipped with young MLBbros Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II who are looking to restore the feeling in The Lou. With All-star vets like Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt still on the roster, this turn-around could happen sooner rather than later. 

 

 

The list of Black players already making a dynamic impact on the game, combined with the number of players in the minors ready to make that leap should be a cause for optimism. Whether 30 percent or six percent, Black baseball players continue to impact the game on every level. 

As we begin the 2024 season, I only have one request–The next time you hear someone say baseball is dead in our community, offer to take them to a game and show them exactly what they’ve been missing.

 

#HIGHFIVE | These MLBbros Ended The 2023 MLB Regular Season With A Bang

#HIGHFIVE | These MLBbros Ended The 2023 MLB Regular Season With A Bang

by | Sep 29, 2023 | THE LEAD OFF

Aaron Judge brought back his record-breaking Mojo from 2022 this week and put on a power display for the ages. He became the first Yankee ever with multiple three home runs games in the same season after hitting three in last Friday’s contest against Arizona to earn himself the top spot on our final #HighFive list of 2023.

 

1. Aaron Judge

This season left us thinking what could have been if Aaron Judge did not injure his toe by running into the outfield wall one Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Judge had his Yankees in prime position to make the playoffs and was on track to outdo his 2022 MVP campaign before going down.

Over his last seven games he slashed .478/.600/1.261 with 12 RBI, seven walks and five homers including the three versus Arizona with the other two coming in the same game Wednesday night against the Blue Jays.

 

Aaron Judge Is Top 5 In American League Homers Despite Missing 50 Games 😳

 

Judge has 37 home runs which right now would be the second most ever for someone who played in 110 fewer games.  Mark McGuire hit 39 in 104 games in the 1995 season.

He will look to make history during their final series against the Kansas City Royals over the weekend.

 

2. Jordan “Sky” Walker

 

The fourth youngest current player in the Majors put a nice bow on his rookie campaign with strong showing over his last seven games. We have to give a shoutout to Walker for raising his level of play on the defensive side of the ball.

 

 

He was a career third baseman in the Minors, but as the season has progressed, he’s gotten better and better at roaming the outfield. At the plate, Walker has a 13-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 22 of 24 games in September.

 

3. Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien refuses to fade away during the most important time of the year with his Rangers just days away from clinching their first American League West title since 2016.


Both of Semien’s hits in the team’s most recent series came this past Sunday when he launched two home runs in the same game, including his franchise-record 10th leadoff bomb of the year.

In the following series, they would take two of three over the Angels. Semien went a combined 4-for-12 with four runs scored, two RBI, a double and two home runs.


That now puts him at 29 home runs and 99 RBI on the year. If he is able to get to 100, Semien will join Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuna Jr, Charlie Blackmon and Darin Erstad as the only leadoff hitters in MLB history with 100 RBI in a season.

 

4. Josiah “Sway” Gray

All-Star Josiah Gray set the tone for what looks to be a promising 2024 season with a great ending to 2023. Gray shut down the American League East champions and playoff bound Baltimore Orioles in his final start of the year Tuesday night.

 

He took home the loss in what ended up being a 1-0 contest after giving up one earned run in six innings while striking out seven and allowing five hits and walking two. After a tough month of August Gray finished off the year strong posting a 2.95 ERA in September with a .241 BA against and 23 strikeouts in 21.1 innings pitched.

Gray ends his first ever All-Star season with a 3.91 ERA and 22 homers allowed. Last season he had a 5.02 ERA and gave up a league-high 38 homers.

 

5. Devin “The Airbender” Williams

Devin Willams has been the most unhittable pitchers in the Majors this season and anchors the best pitching staff in the Majors. In his first year as the Brewers full-time closer Willams set the bar high for himself with 36 saves, five coming in his last seven appearances.

 

 

Over that span, Williams has given up only one run on two hits while striking out 10 in seven innings. He has not given up a run since September 2nd and has a 1.56 ERA this season. The Brewers have a legitimate chance to make some noise in the playoffs with solid pitching and a loaded bullpen.

 

If they can get the ball in “The Airbenders” hands, especially with a lead late, Milwaukee has a fighter’s chance to capture the National League pennant.