His 5-3 record and 4.83 ERA are solid evidence that 24-year-old Jon Gray is fast becoming the bona fide ace the Colorado Rockies hope he can be, but hearing Gray talk about his growth from last year to this year, and how he’s learning to have success at the major league level, instills a confidence that stats cannot.
Gone is the pitcher who said he wasn’t sure if he could pitch at Coors Field. Does one of the toughest parks in baseball to pitch in have him spooked any more?
“No, not at all. I actually like throwing here now,” Gray told Eric Goodman and Les Shaprio of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 on Tuesday following his win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field Monday night.
What’s clicked for the Rockies’ first-round pick in 2013?
“A lot of confidence. Knowing that I’m here for a reason; I’m here because I’m good enough. Just taking that to the game and displaying it.”
Gray had his good stuff on display Monday, striking out eight and walking none in a four-run, seven-inning effort. Just nine months ago, the thought of Gray going seven innings was unheard of. The Rockies had him on a strict pitch count that limited him to four- or five-inning outings during his late-season call-up. But as a pitcher who is “still a student of the game,” Gray had to exercise patience and know that a delay last season would put him where he wanted to be this year.
“I came to terms pretty easily with it,” he told Goodman and Shapiro. “It didn’t bother me. I saw the bigger picture. I think it was awesome, though, because I was able to come in and get the nerves out of the way … It really gave me a kickstart to this year.”
Gray was sidelined to start the season with an abdominal strain, then struggled in his first two starts. He didn’t earn his first win of the season – also his first major league win – until May 13. Since that time he’s gone 5-2, including a series of three straight wins. He’s gaining gaining confidence since changing his approach to facing big league hitters.
“Instead of nibbling around the outside, [I’m] coming at guys with everything,” he said about what’s changed. It’s part of a larger self-described “growth and maturity” process since being with the big league club full-time.
“I think I learned a lot more from what doesn’t work than from what works,” he told Goodman and Shapiro. “In the minor leagues, up through the system, I learned about things I shouldn’t do more than what I needed to do.
“I’ve come to learn to throw and have confidence in every pitch. Changeup, slider, anything. Be able to throw it for counts and read guys swings and know how you’re going to pitch them. I think that kind of growth and maturity has really been a big help.”
That maturity includes knowing when to dial things back and rest.
“One of the things I’ve had trouble with, I guess, is during the week I’ve been throwing a lot. So this last week I had the arm fatigue and I didn’t throw very much at all – maybe 12 pitches off the mound in two days – but I think it helped a lot. So I think I’m going to hit the ‘chill’ button a little more this week and hopefully the strength stays there.”
There’s no doubt that Gray is with the Rockies to stay. His five wins are tied with Jorge De La Rosa for third on the club, and with his rapid maturation those numbers are sure to grow – even if they’re not always the best evidence of the process.
Listen to the full interview with Gray, including what he thinks about the prospects in the Rockies farm system, in the podcast below.
Catch Afternoon Drive with Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro every weekday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.
