Gray threw three scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks or hits in Thursday's spring game against the Dominican Republic WBC team. Gray says he's ahead of last season with his conditioning, when his offseason ramp-up was disrupted by the lockout, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I was continuously fighting my body," Gray said about his 2022 campaign. "You're just playing a constant catch-up game throughout the season."
Gray has give up no earned runs (three unearned) in 4.2 innings this spring with seven strikeouts and no walks. He looks in top form early in the spring, and Wednesday's outing was impressive against a stacked DR lineup. Gray averaged just 4.96 innings per start last season, with the Twins rarely allowing him to go deep into games, so improved conditioning may bode well for his chances of delivering longer outings and quality starts this year.
Minnesota exercised Gray's (hamstring) $12.5 million club option for 2023 on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Gray finished the 2022 season on the injured list, but he put together a solid campaign, posting a 3.08 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 117:36 K:BB across 119.2 frames. He'll serve as the Twins' top rotation arm heading into 2023, barring any major additions this winter.
Gray was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right hamstring strain.
The veteran right-hander surrendered four earned runs over two frames before he exited Monday's start in Kansas City with the injury. Gray spent time on the shelf with a strain of the same hamstring early in the season, and he aggravated the issue in early September before he departed Monday's contest. He'll be eligible to return for the final game of the regular season Oct. 5, but with the Twins seven games back of a playoff spot, he's likely to be shut down for the year.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Dealing with hamstring tightness
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Gray left Monday's game against the Guardians after two innings due to right hamstring tightness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He was charged with four earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out before departing.
The veteran right-hander should be considered day-to-day until the Twins provide further updates. However, because Gray has already contended with this same injury earlier this season, it's fair to wonder whether he'll be ready to make his next scheduled start this weekend against the Angels.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Lifted with apparent injury
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Gray was removed after two innings in his start Monday against the Guardians with an apparent injury, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He was charged with four earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one.
Gray departed with the Twins trailing 4-0, so he'll be on the hook for the loss unless Minnesota mounts a comeback. The greater concern is what prompted Gray's early exit, though it's almost certainly injury-related, as Park notes that the right-hander's fastball velocity was down about 1.7 miles per hour from his season-long average. Ronny Henriquez was summoned from the bullpen to replace Gray and could be a candidate to pick up a spot start Saturday against the Angels if Gray isn't ready to go for his next turn through the rotation.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Stifles Royals in win
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Gray (8-4) earned the win Wednesday without allowing a run on three hits and one walk over seven innings against the Royals. He struck out eight.
Gray surrendered only one extra-base hit during his outstanding performance in the form of a double off the bat of Bobby Witt. The righty has been great in his last 10 starts, recording a 1.98 ERA over 54.2 innings. In addition, the 32-year-old has pitched six innings or more in four of his last six starts.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Effective in no-decision
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Gray allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings in a 4-3 win Thursday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.
Miguel Andujar took Gray deep for a two-run shot in the second inning to account for the scoring against Gray. All the other hits he allowed were singles with only one runner reaching scoring position. He's allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts in the second half and has a 2.27 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB in 47.2 innings in that span. His next start will likely be in the middle of next week against Kansas City.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Cleared for Thursday
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Twins manager Rocco Baldelli confirmed that Gray (hamstring) will start Thursday's series finale against the Yankees, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Yankee Stadium was often a house of horrors for Gray during his time with New York in 2017 and 2018, but he won't be pushed off the road start against his former team after he checked out fine following his bullpen session Tuesday. Gray departed from his most recent start last Friday against the White Sox due to a tight right hamstring, but he shouldn't face any restrictions with his pitch count when he takes the mound Thursday.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Start pushed to Thursday
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Gray (hamstring) is expected to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and is lined up to make his next start Thursday versus the Yankees, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Gray was originally expected to start Wednesday against New York, but he'll have his outing pushed back a day after his bullpen session was moved from Monday to Tuesday. The right-hander left his last outing Friday versus the White Sox early with right hamstring tightness, but he appears on track to avoid a trip to the injured list.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Set for bullpen session
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Gray (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday in New York, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
If his sore right hamstring responds well to the throwing workout, Gray should get the green light to make his next turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Yankees. He was lifted after four innings during his last outing Friday versus the White Sox when his hamstring began to act up.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Departs with hamstring injury
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Gray was removed from Friday's start against the White Sox due to right hamstring tightness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Gray appeared to grab his hamstring in the bottom of the third inning Friday and came back out for the fourth, but he struggled prior to exiting the game. Prior to his departure, he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in four innings. It's not yet clear whether he'll be forced to miss additional time, but he tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against the Yankees on Wednesday if he's deemed healthy enough to make his next turn through the rotation.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Wild in no-decision
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Gray allowed a run on one hit, four walks and a hit batter while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Saturday.
Gray didn't give the Giants much to hit, throwing just 53 of 90 pitches for strikes. They failed to take advantage, picking up just one run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. Gray has walked four or more batters three times in 20 starts this year, so it was an unusual lack of command for the right-hander. The 32-year-old has a 3.04 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 99:32 K:BB through 100.2 innings this season. He'll remain in search of his eighth win heading into next week's projected road start versus the White Sox.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Suffers loss despite quality start
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Gray (7-4) took the loss Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings against the Rangers. He struck out six.
The veteran was effective Monday but could not earn the win as the Twins only mustered one run behind him on the night. Gray has now thrown five or more innings with two or fewer runs allowed in five of his last six starts and owns a strong 3.10 ERA and 1.12 WHIP on the season, both his best since 2019. He will look to get back in the win column in his next scheduled start, which is lined up to be against the White Sox this weekend.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Strikes out 10 in win
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Gray (7-3) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out 10 over six shutout innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Royals.
Gray racked up double-digit strikeouts for just the second time this season. It was also his sixth start out of 18 without allowing the opponent to score. The right-hander hadn't completed six frames in any of his last three starts, but he was able to take advantage of a favorable matchup. Gray owns a 3.11 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 89:27 K:BB through 89.2 innings this season. He's projected for two starts next week if the Twins' rotation stays on turn -- the first lines up as a home outing versus the Rangers.
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Twins' Sonny Gray: Can't complete five innings
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Gray did not factor in the decision against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five batters.
Gray gave up a pair of runs in the second inning but was staked to a lead when Minnesota scored four times between the third and fifth frames. The veteran right-hander couldn't capitalize on the support, however, surrendering two runs in the bottom of the fifth before getting pulled with two outs. It was the first time Gray has failed to complete five innings in four starts and also marked the first time he's given up more than one run over that stretch. His 3.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the season are solid, but Gray is on pace to strike out less than a batter an inning for the first time since 2018.
