Third year pitcher Gray came a long way from leading the Majors last season in home runs allowed, to being the lone Washington Nationals All-Star this year.
Josiah Gray Is A Role Model For Younger Bros | He Tells Us What That Leadership Means And Looks Ahead To Tomorrows Game https://t.co/DG3CFNVcqJ is at the Midsummer Classic interviewing Black and brown major leaguers.
He finished the first half with a 3.41 ERA, 92 strikeouts in 100.1 innings and has been a big part in his Nationals winning four of their last five series. Gray, who turned 25 this past December, is one of 14 All-Stars under the age of 25 to be selected to the All-Star team this season.
It is becoming more and more common in today’s game for players to have instant impacts for their teams right after being called to the Majors.
Take the likes of Arizona’s outfielder Corbin Carroll and Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman for example:
Rutschman, who has been one of baseball’s best catchers since his call-up, was a highlight of last night’s Home Run Derby while Carroll who is starting in left field for the National League is the leader for one of baseball’s most surprising teams.
For the Nationals, their hoping the road to the World Series can be paved with Gray leading the rotation for the next decade.
“It is cool to be one of those younger guys out here and represent the next generation of the game,” Gray told MLBbro.com.”
“It is an opportunity that you will never forget and I am thankful to get to represent the Nationals.”
How Did Washington Nationals Acquire Josiah Gray?
Gray was traded in 2021 from the Dodgers in a megadeal involving future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer and former batting champion Trea Turner.
Now, shortstop C.J. Abrams who was acquired in a deal for Juan Soto and a core of young Nationals look to finish the second half strong and build towards a future that will soon include 2021 top pick James Wood.
“We are having fun playing the game and not worrying about what others have to say,” said Gray.
“We have beat a lot of good teams recently, so things are in a good spot. We are learning from every game and just trying to give the team a chance to win.”
Gray will enter the game sooner rather than later in tonight’s All-Star Game, so he will have to be locked in against the best hitters on the planet.
“I will face whoever they throw out there,” Gray told MLBbro.com.
“It is going to be amazing running out on the field Tuesday night. It is going to be really fun to just be in that moment. It is not something you can embrace beyond soaking it in, so hopefully it is everything I ever dreamed of.”
It’s looking like Gray will be up to the task when his name is called for years to come.
Our resident “O.G.” Mark Gray previews his time spent with Washington Nationals All Star pitcher Josiah Gray from the Washington Nationals Youth Academy as his young fans and other teammates in the Nation’s Capital give him a special send off to Seattle. Stay tuned for an exclusive pre All-Star interview with the melanated mound marauder.
It’s always a blessing to the MLBbro.com family when one of the players who we have covered from the beginning of his MLBbro anointment gets his first All-Star appearance. Particularly, a Melanated Mound Marauder.
We were ecstatic for Devin “Airbender” Williams when he got his first nod in 2022. We looked forward to Hunter Greene and Triston “Dr Sticks” McKenzie breaking out and being a part of the festivities, but injuries have derailed their Midsummer’s Classic dream for at least one more season.
We covered Josiah “Sway” Gray’s first start when he made his debut as the top pitching prospect in the LA Dodgers’ organization, with a real shot of breaking into the rotation.
Since then, he’s been a consistent member of our weekly #HIGHFIVE lists, featuring the top Black and brown MLBbros.
Manager Dave Martinez announced Gray’s All-Star selection in the locker room in front of his teammates.
According to reports, Gray was very emotional and had to take time to gain his composure before briefly addressing his team, who embraced him with “hugs and handshakes” according to mlb.com.
“I kind of just stopped in my tracks. I didn’t think it would be my name,” Gray said. “You dream of playing baseball at this level for years and years as a kid. Being an All-Star is kind of the cherry on top.”
The Youth of MLB Nation Take Over
As one of 26 first-time All-Stars this year, Gray — acquired by the Nationals as one of the cornerstone pieces in the 2021 trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers — is reflective of the changing of the guard that MLB is experiencing.
With the retirement of Albert Pujols and with Miguel Cabrera and Andrew McCutchen and Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander already well into the twilight of their careers and closer to the end, the faces of the game are changing.
Even Bryce Harper and Mike Trout have company in the popularity department, and they have been the faces of MLB for the past decade.
New blood like Josiah Gray is on the scene.
American League Has 0 Bro Pitchers
While the American League failed to select any MLBbro pitchers for its staff, Gray will be joined on the NL staff by Chicago Cubs veteran ace Marcus Stroman and Milwaukee Brewers elite closer Williams.
Being traded to the rebuilding Nats and its band of Bros was the best thing that ever happened to Gray. He didn’t have the pressure of performing immediately that he would have had with the Dodgers who are contending for a World Series ring every season.
He showed flashes of immense potential in his first season, but struggled a ton at times, posting a 5.02 ERA over 28 starts last season while allowing an MLB-high 38 home runs over 148 2/3 innings.
But in between those rough starts, Gray tossed some gems and showed ace possibilities when he toted the mound. He used that first season as a launching pad to great things. He made some adjustments, stopped relying on his four-seamer so much, and through 17 starts this season, Gray has a 3.30 ERA and he’s allowed just 12 homers over 95 1/3 innings.
He’s the unquestioned ace of the Washington Nationals staff and will continue to grow as his team’s talented nucleus and budding minor league prospects mature.
Josiah Gray Looking Forward To Being Around Legends At MLB All-Star Week
It still hasn’t hit Jo Gray that he’s now among baseball’s elite at his craft and he needs to start acting like it because as much as he is in awe of the greats, there’s a growing legion of young fans who look at the guy we call ‘Sway’ Gray, in the same way.
“It’s going to be so cool just to see all the guys there,” Gray said. “Just to meet maybe like Aaron Judge or getting to shake hands with Mike Trout or Shohei Ohtani. I’ve faced them a few times, but just to see them up close and personal, and kind of be on the same level, will be really cool.”
It will also be cool when he steps on the mound in Seattle and makes some history of his own, while continuing the tradition of melanated mound marauders who have risen to the top of the game.
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