Dylan Ray
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 3" 230LBS | Age: 23
Draft: 2022 | Rd: 4, #108, Arizona Diamondbacks | Alabama
MLB Pipeline Rank
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 2 5 5.22 16 16 0 70.2 68 1.54
Career Minors 10 16 4.76 50 50 0 200.1 229 1.36
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 16 2-5 5.22 70.2 68 1.54
Career Minors 50 10-16 4.76 200.1 229 1.36

Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2022 2 Teams Minors 0 3 6.59 8 8 0 13.2 16 14 10 5 4 17 1.46
2022 ACL D-backs Red ACL ROK 0 0 0.00 2 2 0 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0.50
2022 Visalia Rawhide CAL A 0 3 7.71 6 6 0 11.2 16 14 10 5 3 14 1.63
2023 2 Teams Minors 8 8 4.37 25 25 0 113.1 101 57 55 11 40 138 1.24
2023 Hillsboro Hops NWL A+ 7 6 3.81 22 22 0 99.1 84 43 42 8 32 123 1.17
2023 Amarillo Sod Poodles TEX AA 1 2 8.36 3 3 0 14.0 17 14 13 3 8 15 1.79
2024 2 Teams Minors 2 5 5.03 17 17 0 73.1 79 48 41 16 33 74 1.53
2024 ACL D-backs ACL ROK 0 0 0.00 1 1 0 2.2 2 0 0 0 1 6 1.13
2024 Amarillo Sod Poodles TEX AA 2 5 5.22 16 16 0 70.2 77 48 41 16 32 68 1.54

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Ray underwent Tommy John surgery before he could throw a pitch for Alabama in 2021 and worked as a reliever in his return as a Draft-eligible sophomore a year later, striking out 49 in 31 1/3 innings. After a standout turn in the Cape Cod League to help boost his Draft stock, he went to the D-backs in the fourth round in 2022 and signed for exact slot at $565,800. Ray proved to be durable and effective in his first full season, posting a 3.81 ERA with 123 K’s in 99 1/3 innings for High-A Hillsboro (where he was a Northwest League All-Star) before getting three starts for Double-A Amarillo to round off the campaign.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander could run his fastball into the upper-90s at times in college and the pros, but his velocity can be inconsistent all over the 90-96 mph range. He typically aims to work the four-seamer high, allowing his secondaries to play lower in the zone. Ray can snap a sharp upper-80s slider down and away from righties, and he’s added a nice 82-85 mph changeup that drops armside below lefty bats. Thanks to that development, he had a higher K rate against lefties (36.4 percent) than righties (23.7) last season. An upper-70s curveball and upper-80s cutter round out the arsenal.

Ray walked 7.9 percent of his High-A batters but saw more control issues after his Double-A promotion. He generally spots his pitches well, and that command may only get better as he moves away from TJ surgery and builds up more of a starting résumé. With this deep a repertoire, he has pushed relief further into the rearview and has the upside of a No. 4 starter.


2023

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Ray was meant to begin his collegiate career at Alabama in the spring of 2021 but needed Tommy John surgery before throwing his first official pitch for the Crimson Tide. He returned as a Draft-eligible hurler in 2022 and worked exclusively out of the bullpen, earning eight saves while posting a 4.60 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. In an attempt to win over clubs, he kept pitching in the Cape Cod League and was a standout for Yarmouth-Dennis, striking out 17 while walking only two in 11 frames. The D-backs were convinced enough to make him a fourth-round pick and signed him for exact slot at $565,800. Ray made eight Minor League starts to round out his summer but suffered in the hitter-friendly California League, where he surrendered five homers in 11 2/3 innings.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander touched as high as 97 mph in the spring of 2022, but his fastball should settle in a little lower than that with some carry. His mid-80s slider was his best pitch in college and provided the biggest boost to his high K rate, while a high-70s curveball provided a different kind of breaking look. He’ll need to develop a changeup of some sort as he gets lengthened out in pro ball and sees left-handers multiple times per outing.

From the moment they drafted him, the D-backs believed Ray’s pitch mix and solid control could help him become a starter in the pros. While his limited innings may hurt his current stock, they also amp his potential to grow and improve the quality of his stuff with additional experience. The work to become a No. 4/5 starter will begin in earnest in his first full season.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
09/25/2024 RHP Dylan Ray assigned to Salt River Rafters.
06/12/2024 Amarillo Sod Poodles activated RHP Dylan Ray from the 60-day injured list.
06/12/2024 Amarillo Sod Poodles activated RHP Dylan Ray from the 60-day injured list.
06/06/2024 Amarillo Sod Poodles sent RHP Dylan Ray on a rehab assignment to ACL D-backs.
03/22/2024 Amarillo Sod Poodles placed RHP Dylan Ray on the 60-day injured list.
03/22/2024 Amarillo Sod Poodles placed RHP Dylan Ray on the 60-day injured list.
03/07/2024 Arizona D-backs Prospects activated RHP Dylan Ray.
03/07/2024 Arizona D-backs Prospects activated RHP Dylan Ray.
08/26/2023 RHP Dylan Ray assigned to Amarillo Sod Poodles from Hillsboro Hops.
04/03/2023 RHP Dylan Ray assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
08/17/2022 RHP Dylan Ray assigned to Visalia Rawhide from ACL D-backs Red.
08/17/2022 Visalia Rawhide activated RHP Dylan Ray.
08/12/2022 RHP Dylan Ray assigned to ACL D-backs Red.
07/29/2022 Arizona Diamondbacks signed RHP Dylan Ray.