Gray on verge of making 2025 debut for Texas
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ARLINGTON -- Starter? Reliever? Starter? Reliever?
Who knows what Jon Gray’s role will be just yet. What matters is that he’s one step closer to rejoining the big league club. The Rangers’ right-hander made what everybody hopes will be his final rehab start on Saturday night with Triple-A Round Rock, allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings against the Las Vegas Aviators.
He walked two while striking out five, throwing 61 total pitches.
The club anticipates this start being his last before he rejoins the big league club, either on Wednesday against the A’s or Friday against the Braves, with a team off-day on Thursday. Gray fractured his forearm midway through Spring Training, when he took a comebacker off his wrist.
“I’m feeling really good, a lot better,” Gray said at Thursday’s workout at Globe Life Field. “Each time I've been on the mound, I’ve gotten a little bit more out of myself. It’s all really good. It’d be really cool [to rejoin the big league club soon]. I don’t wanna get too excited for something that doesn’t happen. But I hope that’s the case. That’s really good news.”
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While pitching has not been the Rangers’ issue this season, getting Gray back will allow flexibility with a number of guys enduring injured list stints of their own so far this season. Both Jacob deGrom and Kumar Rocker are pitching in their first full seasons post-Tommy John surgery and could potentially need innings regulations down the stretch.
The Rangers’ rotation has an MLB-best 3.20 ERA, while the bullpen has an AL-best 3.34 ERA, good for third in MLB (behind the Giants’ 3.13 and the Padres’ 3.22).
Gray’s best use is likely a flexible swingman of sorts, allowing him to make starts and also come out of the bullpen in long relief and when it’s necessary.
“It’s to be determined,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “We want to have the option of both, right? When that time comes, we'll see where we're at and make that determination.”
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Gray, who is in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal, has spent time on the IL in each of his first three seasons with the Rangers. He threw just 102 2/3 innings in 2024 due to a pair of groin strains and a foot neuroma that required offseason surgery.
He’s posted a 4.21 ERA across three seasons as a starting pitcher, though he allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings as a reliever in the postseason. Gray doesn’t have much of a preference at this point. He just wants to pitch.
“I don’t really care,” Gray said. “Not really. As long as I'm helping out, I really don’t care. I’m sure there will be something for me to do. We’re just going day by day, playing it by ear.”