Josiah Gray will be the starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals on opening Day.
“A big moment for him last year was being in the All-Star Game. He got to pitch an inning and did really well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters at spring training on Sunday. “So here’s the next step in his career, and I think he’s the right guy.”
The 26-year-old was the lone National at the 2023 All-Star Game. He pitched one inning and recorded a strikeout without allowing any hits or walks.
“‘Progress’ is probably the first word that comes to mind, because of how I’ve progressed through the league,” Gray told MLB.com. “I just remember my first big league camp being with the Dodgers and getting cut and thinking how that feeling was, and to say you’re going to be our first arm out of Spring Training going into the season is really cool and really surreal.”
The Le Moyne College product started 30 games in 2023 and posted a 3.91 ERA, the best mark among the Nationals’ starters.
“To get the Opening Day nod, it shows the trust and the level of support I have from Davey, the front office and everyone,” Gray said Sunday. “I think last year, I proved to myself that, above all, that I can really do this at a level that I can really help the team win games … looking forward to just what this year brings and seeing what we can do as a team.”
The Nationals will open the season March 28 against the Cincinnati Reds, the team that drafted Gray in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft. Gray was acquired from the Dodgers in July 2021 with catcher Keibert Ruiz and two minor leaguers in the deal that sent pitcher Max Scherzer and infielder Trea Turner to Los Angeles.
“It means a ton. I’ll definitely feel a little bit better on the mound knowing that that’s the guys that drafted me and traded me away pretty quickly,” he told broadcasters during Sunday’s preseason matchup against the Houston Astros. “I’m looking forward to it and starting that season out there on the mound.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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