Jon Gray Returns Triumphantly After Injury
The Texas Rangers’ right-handed pitcher, Jon Gray, had a successful return from his fractured right forearm, pitching two scoreless innings in relief, in the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night. Gray was activated from the injured list on Wednesday, after having been out since he was hit by a line drive in a spring training game in March. The 33-year-old replaced Patrick Corbin, who was signed three days after Gray’s injury. Gray entered the game with a one-run lead, with runners on the corners in the sixth inning and two outs. A’s pinch hitter Tyler Soderstrom hit a fly ball to center field, where Michael Helman made a backhanded catch two steps from the fence. “He’s really the hero,” Gray said of Helman, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. Gray retired his first six batters before allowing a single with two outs to Brent Rooker, his last batter.“It was really intense,” Gray said. “The first pitches weren’t so good.”
Jon Gray
Gray is in the final season of a four-year, $56 million contract signed in 2021, and has a 22-21 record, starting in 72 of his 77 games since then. Reliever Luke Jackson was designated for assignment to make room on both the active 26-player roster and the 40-player roster before the Rangers played the finale of a three-game series against the Athletics. Gray went 5-6 with a 4.47 ERA in a 2024 season marked by injuries, as he spent time on the injured list due to a groin strain before his season was cut short by a right foot issue. Colorado selected him with the third overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft and spent his first seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Rockies. He was hit by a 106.4 mph batted ball off the bat of Michael Toglia in a spring training game on March 14. The Rangers signed Gray in the same offseason in which they added World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager on a 10-year, $325 million contract, and second baseman Marcus Semien got a seven-year, $175 million contract. Jackson went 2-5 with nine saves and a 4.11 ERA in 39 appearances this season. The right-hander had only one save since April 25.“I was hoping to find a slightly softer landing for him,” said manager Bruce Bochy.
Bruce Bochy
