Scouting Report

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

Before last summer’s showcase circuit started, Gray was a talented two-way high schooler from Illinois. He transferred to IMG Academy for better exposure and competition in his senior year, then performed much better on the mound than as an outfielder, raising his profile as a projectable left-handed pitcher considerably. Trouble with command and what some scouts believed to be a minor arm issue kept Gray from pitching much in the second half of the spring and left his Draft stock a bit up in the air.

A left-handed hitter when he’s in the lineup, Gray runs well and can make a lot of contact with power potential to grow into. He’s done less pitching by comparison, though the step forward some were hoping for over the summer never really came to fruition this spring and he ended up pitching on IMG’s B team before shutting it down on the mound. There are still some very intriguing pieces, including a fastball that was largely 88-92 mph but touched 94 at times. Over the summer, he showed a distinct low-80s slider and a mid-70s curve, though they ran into each other, and he showed mostly the latter breaking pitch this spring. While he didn’t throw many, there’s been some feel for a changeup.

While Gray was certainly going to be projection over ability, his difficulty in throwing strikes with below-average command overall was concerning to some scouts and his reduced time on the mound didn’t help in that regard. A team could roll the dice on his tremendous upside, but he could head to Arkansas to play with older brother Evan if the Draft doesn’t work out.

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

Gray drew interest as both a hitter and pitcher before performing better on the mound on the high school showcase circuit in 2020. He was Illinois' top prep prospect before transferring to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) for his senior year, where his stock dipped amid control problems and rumors of arm issues. He signed for an over-slot $900,000 in 2021's third round, blew out his elbow the following February and had Tommy John surgery that sidelined him until mid-2023.

Gray's fastball operated at 88-92 mph at IMG and now sits at 92-95 with good carry up in the zone, and the extension he creates in his delivery allows his heater to get on hitters more quickly than expected. He attacks left-handers with a sweeping low-80s slider and uses an upper-70s downer curveball against right-handers, and both of his breaking balls are solid offerings. His mid-80s changeup with fade is still a work in progress.

The biggest item on Gray's to-do list is to upgrade his strike-throwing after issuing 29 walks in 34 innings last season. He's athletic and his delivery doesn't contain much effort but he doesn't keep all of its moving parts in sync. He also hasn't topped three innings or 60 pitches in an outing three years into his pro career, so he'll have to establish that his arm and stuff will hold up over a full season's workload to reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.

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

Scouts were undecided as to whether they liked Gray more as a hitter or a pitcher before he blossomed on the mound while on the high school showcase circuit in 2020. Illinois' top prep prospect before he transferred to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) for his senior year, he saw his Draft stock drop among command woes and rumors of arm issues. The Cubs still signed him for an over-slot $900,000 in 2021's third round, only to see him blow out his elbow in February 2022 and require Tommy John surgery. 

Gray spent most of his high school senior season working with an 88-92 mph fastball before dealing at 91-95 during instructional league in the fall of 2021, and his heater plays better than its velocity thanks to quality carry up in the strike zone. He has good feel for spinning a mid-70s downer curveball from a high arm slot, and he also employs a sweeping low-80s slider that shows promise. He was just starting to develop a fading changeup when he got hurt. 

Gray has a projectable 6-foot-3 frame, and if he adds more velocity after gaining strength and rehabbing from his elbow reconstruction, his fastball, curveball and slider all could become plus pitches. He doesn't feature much effort in his delivery, though he needs to do a better job of keeping all of his moving parts in sync. His athleticism should help him as he looks to refine his changeup, mechanics and command. 

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

Gray drew legitimate interest as both a hitter and pitcher before taking a step forward on the mound while on the high school showcase circuit in 2020. He ranked as Illinois' top prep prospect before deciding to transfer to IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.), where inconsistent command and rumors of arm issues dinged his Draft stock. The Cubs signed him away from an Arkansas commitment for $900,000 in the third round, only to see him blow out his elbow this February and require Tommy John surgery. 

After working at 88-92 mph for much of last spring, Gray sat in the low-90s and touched 95 with nice carry on his four-seam fastball during instructional league. He has impressive feel for spinning a mid-70s curveball that could be a plus pitch once he adds more power, and he also has a sweeping low-80s slider. He's in the early stages of developing a changeup with a bit of fade. 

Though his elbow reconstruction four innings into his pro career is a setback, Gray still has a bright future. He's loaded with projection and athleticism, which should help him add more power to his pitches and make the necessary adjustments to refine his changeup and command. He's doesn't have much effort in his delivery but still is learning to keep all his moving parts in sync and won't return to game action until 2023.

Awards

CAR Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
09/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/04/2024	LHP Drew Gray assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	03/07/2024	Chicago Cubs Prospects activated LHP Drew Gray.
	06/24/2023	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated LHP Drew Gray from the 7-day injured list.
	06/06/2023	Myrtle Beach Pelicans sent LHP Drew Gray on a rehab assignment to ACL Cubs.
	04/06/2023	Myrtle Beach Pelicans placed LHP Drew Gray on the 7-day injured list.
	11/09/2022	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated LHP Drew Gray.
	11/09/2022	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated LHP Drew Gray.
	11/09/2022	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated LHP Drew Gray.
	04/08/2022	LHP Drew Gray roster status changed by Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	04/08/2022	Myrtle Beach Pelicans placed LHP Drew Gray on the 60-day injured list.
	03/30/2022	LHP Drew Gray assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
	09/11/2021	LHP Drew Gray assigned to ACL Cubs.
	07/16/2021	Chicago Cubs signed LHP Drew Gray.
	06/17/2020	OF Drew Gray assigned to PG National 6 - Maroon.
	06/17/2020	OF Drew Gray assigned to PG National 6 - Maroon.