The Cincinnati Reds have selected right-handed pitcher Josiah Gray with their competitive balance Round 2 pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft. Gray was the 72nd overall selection.
Background
- School: Le Moyne College (NY)
- Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
- Height: 6′ 1″
- Weight: 205 lbs
- Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Scouting Report
Josiah Gray went undrafted out of high school. He was barely on the radar of colleges coming out of high school and was only offered a scholarship by one school, Le Moyne College. He spent time mostly as a shortstop as a freshman, and then split his time between there and the mound, as a reliever, as a sophomore. As a junior he moved to the mound full time and he didn’t look back. Starting for Le Moyne, he began to show off a low-to-mid 90’s fastball that’s been up to 96 MPH.
His slider is his best secondary pitch. It’s still inconsistent at times, but when it is at its best, it’s a plus offering. He has a change up, too, but he doesn’t use it much and it’s a clear third offering at this point. With a limited history of starting, he’s probably a tad behind other college pitchers in this class. But he’s very athletic and made quick improvements in a short period of time on the mound.
College Stats
| Year | IP | H | HR | BB | K | ERA |
| 2016 | 8.2 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 8.31 |
| 2017 | 14.1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 0.63 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 63 | 2 | 20 | 105 | 1.25 |
Quick Thoughts
Another pitcher who was a fast riser without a lot of pitching experience entering the season. He was absolutely dominant for Division II Le Moyne on the mound in 2018, his first year where he was exclusively a pitcher. He’s got a fresh arm and when you mix that with inexperience, but plenty of athleticism, it could mean that there’s plenty to draw out for the Reds moving forward.