Going into Josiah Gray’s 27th start of the season, on September 3rd, Washington Nationals’ manager Davey Martinez talked about what he and his coaches would be watching as their 25-year-old righty tried to turn things around after a rough stretch, pound the zone, and get ahead of opposing hitters.
“Strikes,” Martinez said when asked what he was hoping to see. “Compete, throw some strikes, early strikes, get ahead early, fastball command. That stuff. The biggest thing is direction for him. Get his head towards his target, but pounding the strike zone. Then he does that and keeps the ball down, he’s been good.