With one walk and one hit batsman, Rockies top pitching prospect Jon Gray allowed more free passes than he completed innings pitched on Friday night at Coors Field against the New York Mets. Indeed, it was the worst outing of Gray’s very young career – one that is just four Major League games deep. Gray allowed seven runs, all earned, on eight hits, including a grand slam to Yoenis Cespedes – his first of three on the night. Heading into Friday’s game, Gray had allowed just five runs in his first three appearances.
Following the game, Gray told MLB.com he’s taking took full blame for the outing. “”I had plenty of chances to get myself out of situations but I just didn’t make the pitches,” Gray said. “They were the right pitch calls, just not in the right spot.”
At just 23 years old and with the Rockies season completely awash, Gray’s callup is somewhat questionable – especially considering his performance at Triple-A Albuquerque has been hot-and-cold, much like what Rockies fans witnessed in his last three starts. In his two previous two outings, Gray had allowed just five hits and two runs in 11 innings. He allowed more than that in the second inning alone Friday.
But for those who want to call this poor performance a reason the Rockies were foolish in bringing up Gray in August, former Rockies pitcher Mark Knudson said on Mile High Sports AM 1340 that there’s no need to panic about Gray’s long-term development.
On his Saturday morning radio show, Sports Stampede, Knudson said Gray simply didn’t have it on Friday, something that happens to every pitcher. He did note, however, that Gray needs to continue to develop his off-speed pitches and gain more consistent command of his fastball.
Listen to the discussion on Gray’s outing, plus plenty of Rockies talk and an added side dish of Broncos talk, in the podcast below…
Listen to Sports Stampede with Mark Knudson and Michael Klahr every Saturday morning from 8a-10a on AM 1340 or Listen Live any time for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports.