With Clayton Kershaw on the disabled list and Trevor Bauer on extended administrative leave, the Dodgers began a critical series with the rival San Francisco Giants with less than a full complement of starting pitchers. Tony Gonsolin got the start on Monday and held the Giants to just 3 runs, but the bullpen wasn’t able to hold and allowed 4 more runs in a 7-2 loss at Dodger Stadium.
With the large hole in the starting rotation and the Dodgers needed immediate pitching help, the team promoted right-hander Josiah Gray to face the Giants last night, winning the game on a walk-off home run by Will Smith. The Dodgers are just a game behind the Giants in the National League West and MLB odds on Sidelines.io still have them as the favorites to win the division, the league, and the World Series, but they will likely have to dig into their prospect pool to make it happen.
This is not anything new. In recent seasons, the Dodgers have successfully transitioned Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Will Smith, Julio Urías, and Alex Verdugo into the big leagues with great success. All of these players except for Verdugo played important roles in last year’s championship season. Can Gray the 23-year-old be counted on to do the same?
Originally a supplemental second-round pick signed by the Cincinnati Reds in early 2018, Gray played shortstop at Le Moyne College outside of Syracuse New York, before converting to a pitcher over that same summer playing for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod League. Gray would return to school as a junior that fall, going 11-0 and finishing third in NCAA Division II with a 1.25 ERA.
The Dodgers acquired Gray, middle infielder Jeter Downs, and Homer Bailey in a blockbuster trade for Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, utility infielder James Farmer, and $7-million in December 2018.
Currently ranked the Dodgers No. 2 prospects and No. 58 in Major League Baseball’s Top 100 Prospects, Gray throws an explosive fastball that tops out at 98 mph and gets on hitters quickly, a deceptive slider that shows signs of becoming a plus pitch, and an upper-70s curveball. Gray is noted for his command and ability to all his pitches for strikes.
In his first pro-season split between Great Lakes, Rancho Cucamonga, and the Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers Double-A affiliate in Oklahoma, Gray went 11-2 with a 2.28 ERA with 147/31 K/BB in 130 innings. After missing two months to injury at the start of this season, Gray began his year at Triple-A Oklahoma City posting a 2.87 ERA and a 22/2 K/BB ratio in 15 2/3 innings before being called up to Los Angeles yesterday.
Save that ball.
Congratulations @JGrayy_ on your first MLB strikeout! pic.twitter.com/Bfadj6ZJ9y
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 21, 2021
Grey didn’t start the game last night, as Dodger’s Manager Dave Roberts opted to bring him in after a two-inning scheduled start by Darien Núñez. In his major league debut, Gray struck out seven in 4-innings but also allowed four runs, including three home runs en route to a no-decision.
The Dodgers entered the season with arguably the deepest pitching staff in baseball but have been plagued by injuries and off-field issues that have sidelined much of their starters. It remains to be seen if Gray will play an important role for the Dodgers as the season winds down, but if history is any guide, it’s likely that he will.
