Position: IF
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 03/22/1996
College: Rice University
How Acquired: Waiver claim (from A’s)
Drafted: 13th Round, 388th Overall, 2017
Bonus: $125,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
The Pirates drafted Gray out of Rice back in 2017. At the time, he had a history of playing all over the diamond, showing at least adequate ability everywhere. He also has a good arm. As a pro, he’s spent time at all four infield positions, shortstop more than the other three, but he’s probably best suited for second or third. At the plate, Gray was seen when drafted as a hitter who could make solid contact and produce average power. Since reaching AAA, he’s been selling out more for power, putting up a pair of 30-home run seasons, but with a lot of swing and miss, low averages and slightly low walk rates. The Pirates traded Gray to the Rays less than a year after drafting him and he spent six years with Tampa Bay. In 2024 he played with both Miami and Oakland. The Pirates claimed him off waivers from the A’s after the 2024 season.
2017-20
Gray had a good debut with the Pirates in short season ball, putting up an .815 OPS, including a .486 slugging average. He didn’t walk a great deal but he had a low K rate. He split his time between second and short. After the season, he went to the Rays in the Corey Dickerson trade.
Gray put up solid seasons for the Rays in 2018-19, skipping Low Class A and spending the two seasons at High A and AA. He showed decent power, with 13 longballs the first year and 17 the second. He also made a lot of improvement with his plate discipline in 2019, with a 92:61 K:BB, although he hit only .238 and .225 the two years.
In the pandemic season, Gray played briefly in independent ball, as did a few other minor leaguers with permission from their teams.
2021-23
Gray spent most of 2021-23 in AAA with the Rays. He missed some time with injuries in 2021 but put up a solid .740 OPS when he played. The next two years he started hitting for a lot of power, with 33 and 30 home runs, respectively. Swing and miss came with the power, as he had a 32% strikeout rate each year, along with OBPs of just .282 and .312. He had no platoon split in 2022 and a moderate one in 2023. The Rays played him primarily at short, although he also saw a fair amount of time at second, and a little at first and third. The Rays added Gray to their 40-man roster in mid-September and he got into two games with them.
The Rays outrighted Gray after the 2023 season and he elected free agency, then signed a minor league deal with Miami.
2024
Miami sent Gray to AAA to start the season, then called him up in mid-May. They optioned him after he’d gotten into seven major league games. He appeared in 100 AAA games for the Marlins, posting a solid .777 OPS while playing mainly at the infield corners. The Marlins put Gray on waivers in late August and Oakland claimed him. He went 3-for-21 in eight games with the A’s and also appeared in a dozen games with their AAA affiliate. For his full time in AAA in 2024, Gray improved his K rate to 26%. Oakland designated Gray for assignment after the season and the Pirates claimed him. He still has two options left.
Stats
Transactions
June 7, 2014: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 37th round, 1105th overall pick.
June 14, 2017: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round, 388th overall pick; signed on June 20.
February 22, 2018: Traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with Daniel Hudson and cash to the Tampa Bay Rays for Corey Dickerson.
September 16, 2023: Contract purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays.
November 6, 2023: Outrighted to AAA by the Tampa Bay Rays and elected to become a free agent.
November 16, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Miami Marlins.
May 12, 2024: Called up by the Miami Marlins.
August 27, 2024: Claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins by the Oakland Athletics.
October 31, 2024: Claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics by the Pittsburgh Pirates.