Gray earns another Clemente nomination, Blankenhorn elects free agency

Josiah Gray may not have made much impact on the field this year, but his continued impact off the field earned the Nationals right-hander another cherished honor.

Gray on Monday was named the Nats’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, given out annually by Major League Baseball to the player who “best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”

It’s the second straight year Gray has been nominated for the Clemente Award, the winner of which will be unveiled during the World Series. The league’s annual Roberto Clemente Day will be held Sept. 15, at which time the right-hander will be honored at Nationals Park prior to the team’s series finale against the Marlins.

After making his first All-Star team in 2023, Gray looked poised to take another bit step forward in his career when he was selected by manager Davey Martinez as the team’s Opening Day starter this spring. Gray, though, wound up making only two starts before reporting elbow pain. Sidelined for three months as he attempted to rehab through the injury and rejoin the rotation, he ultimately learned he had torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and underwent both Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure July 24 in Dallas. He’s expected to miss the majority of the 2025 season.

The 26-year-old has remained with the club during the early stages of his rehab, and he remains active in his off-field pursuits. As player ambassador to the Nationals’ Youth Academy, he is a regular visitor to the Southeast D.C. facility and has established charitable endeavors to help fund its programs.

Gray also this year completed his business and economics degree at Le Moyne College, graduating summa cum laude.

* Travis Blankenhorn will not remain with the Nationals organization after clearing waivers.

Blankenhorn, who was designated for assignment Friday when the club needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly acquired reliever Michael Rucker, cleared waivers Monday and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester. But because the 28-year-old outfielder had previously been outrighted in his career, he had the right to refuse the assignment. He did and is now a free agent.

Blankenhorn played in 23 big league games with the Nats over the last two seasons, batting .145 with one homer (in his first game) and six RBIs. He had produced impressive power numbers at Triple-A (49 homers, 147 RBIs in 214 games) the last two years but could not carry that success over at the major league level.