Sonny Gray

Sonny Douglas Gray (born November 7, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a first-round draft pick by the Athletics in the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2013, won the American League Pitcher of the Month Award twice in 2014, and was named an MLB All-Star in 2015.

Early life

Sonny was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Cindy and Jesse Gray, and lived in Nashville until his family moved to Smyrna, Tennessee, before his eighth grade year. His father died in a car accident during Sonny's freshman year of high school, just as Sonny started playing baseball for Smyrna High School.^[1][2]

Smyrna High School (2004–2008)

As a freshman, he pitched and played left field and was named Freshman of the Year in District 9AAA. As a sophomore, he suffered injuries and saw limited action during the season. As a junior, he led his team to the 2007 State Tournament with an 11–2 win-loss record and a 0.95 earned run average (ERA). This earned him a nod for the AFLAC All-American High School Baseball Classic and a nomination for National Player of the Year (which Tim Melville ultimately won). As a senior, he went 4–0 with a 0.79 ERA. However, he was injured in a district game in April 2008 that ended his season. He also excelled at the plate, batting over .500 his last two seasons at Smyrna, but instead opted to pitch in college.

In addition to his success on the mound, he also played quarterback for Smyrna's football team, guiding them to back-to-back 5A State titles in 2006 and 2007.^[3] He was voted Gatorade Player of the Year by The Tennessean in 2007 and 2008 for his overall athletic success.

Having already made a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt University before Smyrna's state tournament run, he was drafted in the 27th round by the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 MLB Draft. He did not sign with the team.

Vanderbilt University (2008–2011)

As a freshman for the Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team, he began as a relief pitcher, earning four saves before moving to a starter's role late in the season. He posted a 4.30 ERA, which he would improve upon in the next two years. He was designated as the ace of Vanderbilt's pitching staff in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, he went 10–5 with a 3.48 ERA, but led the team in strikeouts (113). Sonny's junior year was his most successful, as he went 12–4 with a 2.43 ERA and 132 strikeouts. He also helped Vanderbilt earn their first-ever College World Series berth, making it to the semifinals and losing to national runner-up Florida.

Gray was selected 18th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2011 MLB Draft.^[4] He elected to forgo his senior year at Vanderbilt and signed with Oakland for a $1.54 million signing bonus.

Professional career

Minor league

Gray, after being drafted, was optioned to the Athletics' Double-A affiliate. The next year, Gray again began his season at Double-A. There, he posted a 4.14 ERA before being promoted to Triple-A Sacramento RiverCats, where he struggled in his only start.^[5]

To start the 2013 season, Gray returned to the RiverCats, where he posted a 2.81 ERA and was selected to start the Triple-A All-Star Game for the Pacific Coast League.

Oakland Athletics

2013 season

Gray pitching in 2013

On July 10, 2013, Gray was called up to replace Dan Straily, who had been optioned to Triple-A.^[6] He made his first major league appearance out of the bullpen, in relief of Jerry Blevins, against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Gray pitched two innings, tallying three strikeouts and allowing a single hit. He did not allow a run, nor a walk. Gray made a second relief appearance nine days later against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim but was then sent back down to the minors.

Gray was recalled again by the Athletics on August 10, and made his first Major League start against Mark Buehrle and the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto.^[7] This was supposed to be just a spot start in Tommy Milone's place in the rotation after Milone's struggles and subsequent option down to Triple-A Sacramento. However, Gray has since become a fixture in the A's rotation as the fifth starter.

Gray's first Major League win came against Erik Bedard and the Houston Astros in his home debut. He pitched 8 shutout innings to earn a 5–0 win.

On September 22, Gray pitched and won the AL West Division-clinching game against the Minnesota Twins in an 11–7 A's victory. He finished the regular season, going 5–3 in 12 games (10 starts) with a 2.67 ERA, striking out 67 in 64 innings.

On October 5, Gray started Game 2 of the American League Division Series against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers. In a no-decision effort, he pitched 8 scoreless innings before a 9th inning walk-off hit by Stephen Vogt resulted in a 1–0 Oakland win.^[8] In a surprise move, Gray was elected to start Game 5 over Bartolo Colón. Facing Justin Verlander, Gray pitched 5+ innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs, getting the loss in the 3–0 game.^[9]

2014 season

Despite not having previously been on an Opening Day roster, Gray made his first career Opening Day start on March 31 against the Cleveland Indians. He started the season 4–1 with a 1.76 ERA, while also recording his first complete game shutout, and 37 strikeouts in 41.0 innings pitched over six starts in April. For his early success, he was named AL Pitcher of the Month for the first time in his career. He would later go on to win AL Pitcher of the Month for July, as well. On the final day of the regular season, Sonny clinched the Athletics' third consecutive playoff spot with a complete game win on the road against the Texas Rangers. The A's would go on to lose the 2014 AL Wild Card Game to the Kansas City Royals in extra innings.

2015 season

Sonny was tabbed for a second straight Opening Day start for the Oakland Athletics on April 6 against the Texas Rangers. He pitched 8 innings and allowed only 1 hit, holding the Rangers hitless until the 8th inning. Gray continued his success through mid-July, as he held a 10–3 record and a 2.04 ERA at the All-Star Break. As a result, he was selected to his first All-Star Game.

Gray finished the season 14–7 with a 2.73 ERA. He finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting, behind winner Dallas Keuchel and David Price.^[10]

Pitching Style

Sonny Gray's pitch repertoire includes a four-seam fastball at 91–95 mph, a slider at 84–88 mph, a curveball at 79–83, a cutter at 89–92, and a changeup at 86–88.

Personal life

On January 27, 2015, Gray and his girlfriend, Jessica Forkum, had a son, Gunnar Carmack Gray.^[11] They are engaged to be married in November 2016.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• VU Commodores.com
• MLB.com
• Sonny Gray