ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) 鈥� Peyton Gray had visualized the moment so many times that he didn’t feel nervous when finally making his big league debut 鈥� at age 30 after eight years through the minor leagues, independent ball and four winters outside the United States
Gray worked a perfect inning in his debut for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, getting a groundout on his first pitch in the majors and ending the with a strikeout of Konnor Griffin, the highly touted shortstop playing the day before his 20th birthday.
鈥淭hat makes me feel pretty old,鈥� Grey said with a smile. 鈥淕etting my first career strikeout on him is pretty cool.鈥�
The Rangers promoted Gray from Triple-A Round Rock earlier Thursday when placing left-handed reliever Robert Garcia on the 15-day injured list because of left shoulder inflammation after he hadn’t pitched in a week. Gray was the fourth reliever they used after two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom recorded his 62nd career 10-strikeout game, getting those in 5 2/3 innings.
鈥淚t was awesome, and I was getting chills,鈥� Rangers manager Skip Shumaker said. 鈥淭he journey that he had to get to this spot, you could probably write a book about it.鈥�
Gray found out about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, after Round Rock was rained out for the second day in a row in Sugar Land, Texas, that he was going to join the Rangers. He then called his parents in Columbus, Indiana, and they made the more than 900-mile drive to be at their son’s big-league debut.
Each time the phone rang in the Rangers bullpen Thursday night, Gray got antsy thinking it could be his moment.
鈥淲hen it was finally my turn, it was awesome. I wasn鈥檛 nervous I was more excited, prepared,鈥� said Gray, who was asked later why he didn’t feel nervous. 鈥淚 think I visualized this moment so many times throughout my life. … I feel like I鈥檝e been a big leaguer already. I just haven鈥檛 been able to be on this stage yet.鈥�
After needing only one pitch to get his first out, Gray got a flyout before facing Griffin, the teenager who two weeks ago agreed to . The swing-and-miss for strike three was on an 83.4 mph changeup that catcher Danny Jansen blocked and then threw to first base to end the game.
鈥淭his game is amazing. I love this game so much because of stories like that,鈥� Schumaker said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e seeing a kid that just came out of high school not too long ago, and then another guy that has spent (time) trying to get his moment. … For him to get a strikeout against a future All-Star over there. That鈥檚 what the beautiful part of this game is, you don鈥檛 see that in every sport. That just doesn鈥檛 happen. So yeah, pretty cool moment.鈥�
After being in the Rangers鈥� minor league system last season, Gray impressed them in spring training this year as a non-roster invite. He had 2.53 ERA in nine appearances with 18 strikeouts and one walk over 10 2/3 innings.
The pitcher who will turn 31 on June 2 began this season at Triple-A Round Rock, where he threw 12 2/3 scoreless innings over seven games, going 1-0 with two saves, 15 strikeouts and two walks.
鈥淏eing the 30-year-old non-roster invite that doesn鈥檛 have any big league time, I don鈥檛 think they expected me to put up as many zeroes and throw as many strikes as I did,鈥� Gray said in the Rangers clubhouse before his MLB debut. 鈥漇o I think I surprised them. I might have surprised myself a little bit too.鈥�
After pitching at Florida Gulf Coast University, Gray鈥檚 professional debut was a short season with the Colorado Rockies鈥� affiliate in the Northwest League in 2018, and he stayed in their organization in 2019.
He spent 2021 in the Kansas City Royals鈥� organization, that between three different seasons for the Milwaukee Milkmen in the independent American Association. He pitched in the Dominican last winter, after the previous three winters in the Mexican Pacific League.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 awesome. 30 years old, that it鈥檚 a long time and been through a lot,鈥� deGrom said of Gray. 鈥淪o for him to get up here and get to the major leagues is just a testament to how hard he has worked throughout the minor leagues and stuff. So very happy for him.鈥�
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