How Good is Josiah Gray?

Josiah Gray, a young right-handed pitcher for the Washington baseball team, has been making waves in the 2022-23 baseball season. After struggling in his first few starts, he has recently been showing signs of promise on the mound, including his first win of the season.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Josiah Gray’s background, performance, and potential as a pitcher, as well as compare him to other top pitchers in the league.

By the end of this post, readers should have a better understanding of just how good Josiah Gray is and what his future in baseball may hold.

Early Career and Draft

Josiah Gray was born on December 21, 1997, in New Rochelle, New York, and grew up in the small town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He attended Hattiesburg High School, where he played both baseball and basketball.

Gray was not heavily recruited for baseball, but he caught the attention of Division II Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York.

Gray had a standout career at Le Moyne, posting a 2.54 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 98 innings pitched over two seasons. He caught the eye of major league scouts, and in 2018, he was selected in the second round of the MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

Gray spent a little over a year in the Reds’ minor league system before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster deal that sent Yasiel Puig and several other players to Cincinnati.

Gray made his debut for the Dodgers in July 2021, appearing in three games out of the bullpen before making his first major league start in August of that year. He pitched well in his rookie season, posting a 2.87 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 15.2 innings pitched.

Performance in the 2022-23 Season

Josiah Gray has made five starts in the 2022-23 baseball season, and while he struggled in his first four starts, he showed signs of improvement in his fifth start, earning his first win of the season. Here is a breakdown of his statistics for the season so far:

• 2.93 ERA

• 8.13 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings)

• 1.22 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched)

• 1-4 record

• 29.1 innings pitched

Gray’s ERA and strikeout rate are solid, indicating that he has been effective at limiting opposing teams’ scoring while also striking out a good number of batters.

His WHIP is a little on the high side, indicating that he may be giving up too many walks or hits, but it is not a major cause for concern at this point in the season.

In his most recent start, Gray went six innings, allowing only two runs on four hits while striking out six batters. He looked much more comfortable on the mound and was able to pitch deep into the game.

This performance was a positive sign for Gray and the Washington baseball team, as it suggests that he may be settling into his role as the team’s top arm and finding his groove.

Overall, while Gray’s early season struggles were concerning, his recent performance is encouraging and suggests that he has the potential to be a solid starting pitcher for years to come.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Josiah Gray has several key strengths as a pitcher that have helped him find success at both the minor league and major league levels. Here are a few of his strengths:

• Strikeout ability: Gray has shown an ability to strike out batters at a high rate, with a career minor league K/9 rate of 10.6 and a major league K/9 rate of 12.1. This skill is highly valuable in today’s game, where strikeouts are becoming more common and important for pitchers.

• Limiting runs: Gray has shown an ability to limit opposing teams’ scoring, with a career minor league ERA of 2.42 and a major league ERA of 2.90 in his young career. This indicates that he is able to keep runners off base and minimize damage when he does give up hits or walks.

• Athleticism: Gray is a good athlete and has shown an ability to field his position well. This can help him prevent hits and turn double plays, which can be crucial in tight games.

While Gray has several strengths, there are also areas where he can improve. Here are a few potential areas for improvement:

• Control: Gray has struggled with control at times in his career, with a career minor league BB/9 rate of 3.4 and a major league BB/9 rate of 4.2. This indicates that he is prone to giving up walks, which can lead to high pitch counts and put him in tough situations.

• Pitch variety: Gray primarily relies on his fastball and slider, and while both pitches are effective, he could benefit from adding another pitch to his repertoire. This would make him less predictable and give him more options when facing different batters.

• Stamina: Gray has never pitched more than 130 innings in a single season, and while he is still young, he will need to build up his stamina if he wants to be a reliable innings-eater for the Washington baseball team. This could involve building up his arm strength or working on his conditioning.

Comparison to Other Top Pitchers

Comparing Josiah Gray to other top pitchers in the league can provide a sense of his current performance and future potential. Here are some comparisons to consider:

Jacob Degrom

deGrom is widely regarded as one of the top pitchers in baseball, and for good reason. He has won two Cy Young awards and has a career ERA of 2.55. In 2021, deGrom had an ERA of 1.08 and a K/9 rate of 14.3, which are both significantly better than Gray’s current numbers.

However, deGrom is also several years older than Gray and has had more time to establish himself as an elite pitcher.

Shane Bieber

Bieber won the AL Cy Young award in 2020 and has been dominant in his young career. He has a career ERA of 3.30 and a K/9 rate of 11.6. Bieber’s numbers are somewhat similar to Gray’s, though Bieber has been more consistent over a longer period of time.

Walker Buehler

Buehler is another young pitcher who has shown a lot of promise early in his career. He has a career ERA of 3.16 and a K/9 rate of 10.3. Buehler’s numbers are comparable to Gray’s, though Buehler has pitched in more high-pressure situations, including multiple playoff appearances.

Overall, Josiah Gray’s statistics and performance suggest that he has the potential to be a top pitcher in the league.

While he may not yet be on the same level as established veterans like deGrom or rising stars like Bieber and Buehler, he has shown an ability to limit runs and strike out batters, which are key skills for any pitcher.

With continued development and improvement, Gray could become a force on the mound for years to come.

Future Potential

Josiah Gray has shown a lot of potential in his young career, and there is reason to believe that he could continue to develop and improve in the long term. Here are some factors that may impact his future potential:

Injury

As with any pitcher, injuries are a risk that could impact Gray’s development and success. While he has not had any major injuries to date, he will need to stay healthy and avoid any setbacks in order to reach his full potential.

Pitch Development

Gray has primarily relied on his fastball and slider so far in his career, but he could benefit from developing another pitch to complement his existing arsenal.

If he can add a third or fourth pitch that is effective against both left- and right-handed batters, he could become even more difficult to hit and elevate his status to an elite level.

League Changes

As the league continues to evolve, with teams emphasizing different strategies and approaches, Gray will need to adapt and adjust in order to remain successful.

For example, if teams start to become more aggressive on the basepaths or adopt different hitting philosophies, Gray may need to change his approach in order to continue to limit runs and strikeouts.

Despite these potential challenges, Gray’s strong performance to date and his natural talent suggest that he has a high ceiling as a pitcher. If he can continue to improve and develop his skills, he could become a top pitcher in the league and lead his team to success for many years to come.

Josiah Gray’s Statistics to Those of Some Other Top Pitchers in the League

FAQs

How old is Josiah Gray?

Josiah Gray was born on December 21, 1997, which makes him 25 years old as of 2023.

What position does Josiah Gray play?

Josiah Gray is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals.

Where did Josiah Gray go to college?

Josiah Gray attended Le Moyne College, a small Division II school in Syracuse, New York.

When did Josiah Gray make his Major League debut?

Josiah Gray made his Major League debut on July 20, 2021, for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What kind of pitches does Josiah Gray throw?

Josiah Gray primarily relies on his fastball and slider, but he has also shown a curveball and changeup in his repertoire.

Has Josiah Gray won any awards or accolades?

Josiah Gray has not yet won any major awards, but he has been highly regarded as a top prospect in the Dodgers and Nationals organizations.

What is Josiah Gray’s contract status with the Nationals?

Josiah Gray is currently under team control with the Nationals, meaning that he is not eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season.

Conclusion

Josiah Gray has shown a lot of promise in his young career as a pitcher for the Washington Nationals.

While he is still developing and has areas for improvement, such as control and pitch variety, his ability to limit runs and strike out batters suggests that he has the potential to become a top pitcher in the league.

Comparisons to other established veterans and rising stars in the league provide context for his current performance, but Gray’s trajectory will ultimately depend on factors such as injury, pitch development, and changes in the league.

With continued development and improvement, Gray could become a cornerstone of the Nationals’ pitching staff for years to come.