MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
Tuesday, June 6
Gray given opportunity to make it to bigs


CINCINNATI -- Two days after he struck out 25 batters in an independent league game, right-hander Brett Gray signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

"The 25 game got my name out there," Gray said. "I got the opportunity I wanted and we'll see what happens."

Gray, 23, was assigned to Class-A Dayton on Monday after the Reds purchased his contract from the London (Ontario) Werewolves of the Frontier League.

Gray struck out 25 during a 9-1 victory Saturday night over the Chillicothe Paints and later said he still hoped to get a chance to pitch in the major leagues someday.

"He was pretty excited and I'm excited for him," said Bruce Gray, Brett's father and the pitching coach for London. "We thought this would happen, but we are surprised with how quickly it did."

This was Gray's third season in the Frontier League. The native of Wyoming, Ontario, was 9-5 with a league-record 129 strikeouts last year.

"After last season I thought I would get picked up," Gray said. "I worked out this off-season and it all worked out. I'm very excited to get the chance."

Gray helped pitch Oklahoma City University to the 1998 NAIA World Series. The Houston Astros talked to him about drafting him in the late rounds, but he was not picked.

Gray, 6 feet and 190 pounds, attended tryout camps with Pittsburgh and San Diego during the offseason, but was not offered a contract. His record-setting performance Saturday evidently earned him another chance.

The professional record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game is 27, set by Ron Necciai for Bristol of the Appalachian League in 1952. The major league mark is 20, twice done by Roger Clemens and once by Kerry Wood.
 


ALSO SEE
Frontier League pitcher strikes out 25 batters