Gray learning and embracing new role with Nats

Every start for Josiah Gray is another stepping stone toward being the reliable frontline starter the Nationals envision. While he's learning along the way, the 23-year-old is also embracing a new role and a new set of expectations with his new club.

There are certain things the Nationals are looking for from Gray when he takes the mound every fifth day. He's going to get the chance to make his starts for the remainder of the season and every time out there is a learning opportunity.

"What he does in certain situations. When he elevates, when he puts the ball down, when he throws his breaking balls. We're watching all of that stuff," manager Davey Martinez via Zoom said after Gray's start against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. "He's got a great idea of what he wants to do and how he wants to attack hitters. We talked a little bit when he came out of the game about maybe not giving into some guys we know are fastball hitters if he falls behind 2-1, 2-0. Those are times where his breaking ball is so good, he could still attack, he could throw it for strikes. He could still attack with those breaking balls. So he's learning all of that. And like I said, he's a joy to be around and he wants to continue to get better."

Utilizing his breaking ball more will be another important step in Gray's development. While his fastball is sitting around 95 mph and certainly plays at the major league level, opposing hitters are waiting for and putting good swings on it when they can.

Of the 11 home runs Gray has allowed this season, seven have been off the fastball. Luckily, 10 of the 11 homers have been solo shots and all seven of his earned runs as a National have come via solo homers. So the damage hasn't been too bad.

Despite the two homers surrendered yesterday, Gray did find more success with his breaking balls. The Blue Jays swung at his slider 15 times and whiffed 10 times. They also missed half of the six swings against his curveball.

Though he's struggled with the longball, Gray has showed the stuff to get out of jams on his own, including a crucial moment in the sixth inning against the Blue Jays.

In the top of the sixth with a 3-2 lead, he got two strikeouts on nine pitches, then gave up a double to Teoscar Hernández and an infield single by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to put runners on the corners. Another opportunity to learn about getting out of a sticky situation.

"Just have to be tough and execute some pitches," Gray said. "In that at-bat, I want to say to (Breyvic) Valera in that sixth inning, I had to just be tough and make some pitches and make sure we left that inning with the lead. So just learning from that and every other situation I've had being in a tight spot, just make those pitches and let your stuff play. Don't try to be too fine, but make the pitches and get the hitters out, whether it's a strikeout, popout, flyout or anything like that. Just get the hitters out, just your stuff and get us back in the dugout."

It's not just Gray learning during this process. Martinez and the Nationals coaching staff are also learning about the right-hander as a competitor by leaving him out there to his own way out of jams.

"Absolutely. I wanted to see what he does in high-leverage situations, that's part of it," Martinez said. "And he got through it. And you can see the emotions after he got that out. I mean, he was pretty pumped up when he was coming off the mound. So it's good to see. But I knew this after watching his first couple of outings. That he just wants to go out there and compete. But it's good to see him go out there and have a little bit of struggles. I don't want him struggling a whole lot. But get through that inning and feel good about himself coming out of the game right there."

Gray recognizes and appreciates the faith his new coaches have shown in him, especially when he runs into trouble.

"It's been great. I think they're making me go out there and make pitches for myself," he said. "Obviously, whenever they feel the need, they'll come out and talk to me, give me a quick breather, a quick pep talk. But other than that, everything's been great. And obviously the sixth inning started out great with two strikeouts. But then got into a little trouble with the double and the infield single. I wasn't even thinking about a mound visit at that point in time. I just knew that I had Breyvic Valera up, I gotta get him out, keep us with the lead and do my job. So that's all. No thoughts about a mound visit, no thoughts about anything other than getting that hitter and keeping us with the lead in that sixth inning."

And Gray is learning all of this on the fly while also adjusting to being the face of a new wave of Nationals players.

"I just try to make every start every fifth day and just go out there and give us a chance to win," Gray said. "Obviously that's been my M.O. ever since I joined professional baseball. Just go out there and give the team a chance to win. But obviously now, joining the Nationals organization, we're trying to rebuild, trying to build around some of the young guys like myself. Obviously that's something you have to recognize and you have to just appreciate. Because they want you to be a part of the future, they want you to be a guy for them and go on and do great things for the club. So obviously I definitely take notice of it and I appreciate it and it's definitely something I take a lot of pride in. I'm really excited to be here and it's been awesome so far."

Learning how to pitch at the major league level and dealing with the pressure of leading a rebuild doesn't mean Gray and Martinez can't have some fun, even in a losing season.

Gray recorded his first major league hit in his first at-bat Wednesday afternoon, knocking a line drive into right field in the second inning. Although Martinez would prefer his young pitcher not swing for the fences, he did point out that Gray now has more hits this season than a certain future Hall of Fame pitcher who used to play for the Nationals.

"He's got one more hit than Max Scherzer, which is awesome," Martinez said with a smile.