Robbie Ray Stats & Scouting Report

IP	30.2
ERA	4.7
WHIP	1.14
BB/9	4.4
SO/9	12.62

Full name Robert Glenn Ray
Born 10/01/1991 in Brentwood, TN
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Brentwood
Debut 05/06/2014
Drafted in the 12th round (356th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2010 (signed for $799,000).

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Lefthander Ray had a tumultuous spring, with inconsistent velocity and performances. He was never quite as good as he showed in showcases last fall, when his fastball reached the mid-90s and his slurvy breaking ball showed more power. He also has flashed a plus changeup with some late fade. His fastball velocity was more in the 89-91 mph range this spring, and in some starts it sat in the upper 80s. That didn't keep him from throwing a five-inning perfect game, one of three no-hitters he authored in the spring. Ray has a whippy arm action and slender 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame. He changed his college commitment from Vanderbilt to Arkansas. While he's considered more signable now, he also could start on weekends for the Razorbacks if he is more consistent next spring.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Only one year after being the centerpiece prospect in the trade that sent Doug Fister from the Tigers to the Nationals, Ray was on the move again, with the Diamondbacks acquiring him from Detroit in a three-team deal centered on Didi Gregorius in December 2014. Ray's stock did not improve in 2014 with an uninspiring season. He got rocked during his major league debut in May, then spent most of the season at Triple-A Toledo before coming back up in August and September. Ray's fastball ranges from the low- to mid-90s, and he touched 97 mph in the AFL. His strikeout rate dropped precipitously in 2014 because he doesn't have an out pitch among his secondary offerings. His changeup is an average pitch that he throws with good arm speed, along with solid sink and tail, but the lack of a reliable breaking ball continues to hamper him. He's thrown a slider and a curveball, though he scrapped the curve toward the end of the season to focus on the slider, which is below-average. Ray is athletic but scouts have questioned his pitching savvy. Without a second plus pitch or better command, Ray profiles as a No. 4 starter, but the Diamondbacks believe he has the potential to be at least a mid-rotation arm. He'll go to spring training with a shot at earning a rotation job but could also spend time on the Triple-A Reno shuttle.
Ray first made a name for himself by flashing mid-90s heat on the high school showcase circuit, but he pitched mostly in the 87-91 mph range and topped out at 93 over his first three pro seasons. His velocity jumped in 2013, and his prospect status jumped with it. He ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the high Class A Carolina League, and he more than held his own as a 21-year-old in the Double-A Eastern League following a midseason promotion. In their 2012 instructional league, the Nationals made an adjustment with Ray's lower half to maximize his deception, and hitters struggle to pick up his fastball. He attacks hitters primarily with his heater, which ranges from 91-96 mph, averaging about 93. His arm still drags at times, causing his release point and command to be inconsistent, but he is a good athlete with a loose arm, prompting scouts to project his command as at least average. His changeup came along nicely in 2013, showing flashes of being a slightly above-average pitch in the low 80s. The biggest question about Ray is whether he has enough feel to spin an effective breaking ball. He throws a short slurve that ranges from 74-79 mph, and too many of them are tumblers with loose spin, rating as 35 pitches. His best ones are average, but the pitch still has a long way to go. Ray's plus fastball, athleticism and durable frame give him a chance to be a mid-rotation starter if he can develop his breaking ball. He'll continue to work on the pitch as a 22-year-old in Double-A next year.
Ray first generated scouting buzz in 2009, when he flashed mid-90s heat on the high school showcase circuit, but he hasn't shown that kind of stuff since. After signing for $799,000 in 2010, he put together a solid first full season before struggling mightily against older competition as a 20-year-old in high Class A last year. Ray has average fastball velocity for a lefthander, sitting at 87-91 mph and bumping 92-93 on occasion. The Nationals had him commit to a four-seam fastball with some tail, and they think his numbers took a hit as he got used to pitching without a sinker. He also made a change to his below-average slider, throwing more of a power slurve with better power and depth in the second half of the season. His changeup made considerable progress in 2012, and it projects as a solid pitch. A short strider, Ray has worked to make better use of his legs in his delivery and prevent his arm from dragging behind. The Nats made progress giving his delivery more turn and deception in instructional league. Ray's command is still a work in progress, but he does have feel for pitching, giving him a chance to be a big league starter. He'll likely repeat high Class A in 2013.
After flashing mid-90s velocity on the high school showcase circuit in 2009, Ray dominated with less velocity the following spring, throwing three no-hitters, including a five-inning perfect game. After falling to the 12th round of the 2010 draft, he bypassed a commitment to Arkansas in order to sign for $799,000 a day before the Aug. 16 deadline. The Nationals held him and fellow prep draftee A.J. Cole in extended spring training before joining Hagerstown's rotation in mid-May. Ray did a fine job pounding the strike zone in the first half, but his walk total spiked in July. He pitches with an 87-91 mph fastball with natural sink. Though he flashes a bit more on occasion, he projects to pitch with average fastball velocity and plus life. Ray has very good feel for his changeup, which projects as a slightly above-average pitch. He also has the makings of a solid slider, though it remains inconsistent. Ray's stride tends to vary in length, and if he can learn to repeat his mechanics consistently, his stuff should benefit. Projected as a quality back-of-the-rotation starter, he'll head to high Class A in 2012.
Ray garnered early-rounds draft buzz after running his fastball into the mid-90s on the showcase circuit in 2009, but when the velocity on his fastball and breaking ball dropped last spring, so did his draft stock. Even so, he threw three no-hitters as a high school senior, including a five-inning perfect game. He slipped to the 12th round of the draft, and the Nationals signed him away from a commitment to Arkansas the day before the Aug. 16 deadline with a $799,000 bonus. He pitched one inning at Vermont, then had a solid instructional league. Ray's fastball sat at 89-91 with natural late movement in the spring, and his whippy arm action and projectable, athletic frame suggest he could have a plus heater in time. His No. 2 pitch is a quality changeup with late fade. He needs to tighten up his slurvy breaking ball, but it projects as an average pitch. Ray has good feel for pitching for his age and has a chance to be a quality mid-rotation starter down the road. He figures to begin 2011 in extended spring training, then head to the Nationals' new short-season Auburn affiliate.

Minor League Top Prospects

Acquired by the Tigers when they traded Doug Fister to the Nationals last December, Ray jumped to Triple-A in 2014 after just 11 starts at Double-A. He stood head and shoulders above any lefthander in the IL in a shallow year for southpaws. Ray pitches in the low 90s with sinking, tailing action, and he can rear back for 95 mph when he needs it. His slider can look awkward at times and projects as a fringe-average offering, but he has exceptional feel for a changeup he sells with plus arm speed. Ray's command has improved each season, but he got hit around when his pitches caught too much of the plate during three callups to the Tigers. Most scouts view him as No. 4 starter with upside.
The adjustments Ray made last year while taking his lumps as a 20-year-old in the CL paid off when he returned to Potomac to start this season. Several league observers noted that the southpaw appeared more confident and aggressive on the mound with an improved repertoire of pitches before moving on to Double-A at the start of July. Ray attacks hitters with a 90-94 mph fastball and has the arm strength to add more velocity down the road. His slider grew from more of a slurvy pitch to a power one with good depth that could turn into an above-average offering. He showed feel for a changeup to keep hitters off-balance. Ray still struggles with his command at times and gets in trouble when he leaves pitches up?his nine home runs in just 84 innings were the 11th most in the league. He?s durable on the mound, going the distance in three of his 16 starts.

Career Transactions

San Francisco Giants activated LHP Robbie Ray from the 15-day injured list.
San Francisco Giants placed LHP Robbie Ray on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 26, 2024. Left hamstring strain.
San Francisco Giants activated LHP Robbie Ray from the 60-day injured list.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to Sacramento River Cats.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to San Jose Giants.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to San Jose Giants.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to Sacramento River Cats.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to Sacramento River Cats.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to San Jose Giants.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to Sacramento River Cats.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to ACL Giants.
San Francisco Giants sent LHP Robbie Ray on a rehab assignment to ACL Giants.
San Francisco Giants placed LHP Robbie Ray on the 60-day injured list. Left elbow surgery.
Seattle Mariners transferred LHP Robbie Ray from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Seattle Mariners placed LHP Robbie Ray on the 15-day injured list. Left flexor strain.