This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ARLINGTON -- Thirty-year-old Peyton Gray began his jog from the bullpen to the mound in the ninth inning on Thursday night against the Pirates.
It was a soft landing for his MLB debut, with the Rangers leading 6-1. That didn’t particularly stop the nerves, though.
“Every time that phone rang in the bullpen today, I kind of got a little antsy,” Gray said, still out of breath postgame. “It was like, ‘This could be my moment.’ But when it was finally my turn, it was awesome. I wasn't nervous, actually. I was more excited. Prepared. … I visualized this moment so many times throughout my life, and then I just felt prepared. I know I belong here. I think I've shown it now.”
At 30 years, 325 days old, Gray became the oldest Ranger to make his MLB debut since left-hander Hyeon-jong Yang (33.056) on April 26, 2021, against the Angels. Gray easily fired off a 1-2-3 ninth inning, notching his first MLB strikeout against 19-year-old Konnor Griffin to close the win.
“That makes me feel pretty old,” Gray said with a laugh.
“This game is amazing,” added Rangers manager Skip Schumaker. “I love this game so much because of stories like that. You're seeing a kid that just came out of high school not too long ago, and then another guy that has spent 10-plus years trying to get his moment. For Gray to get a strikeout against a future All-Star, that's what’s beautiful about this game. You don't see that in every sport.”
If you couldn’t tell by his age, Gray isn’t your regular rookie.
He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Rockies after the 2018 MLB Draft, having attended Florida Gulf Coast University (2017-18), Gulf Coast State College (2016), and Western Michigan University (2015).
He was undrafted at all three stops.
He was released by three Major League organizations -- the Rockies, Royals and Reds. He spent 2022-24 between the Milwaukee Milkmen of the Independent American Association and various Mexican League teams. He pitched in the Dominican Winter League.
If the dream died, it wouldn’t be because he gave up on it.
“I mean, a couple years ago, I didn't even know if I was ever going to play in the States again,” Gray said. “I was in Mexico, I was playing independent ball, stuff like that. There were some bad times when I didn't ever see this as a possibility. Being here is a dream come true.”
Gray said he didn’t truly believe this would be a possibility again until he signed a Minor League deal with the Rangers in January 2025 and began pitching in affiliate baseball for the first time since 2021.
He posted a 3.58 ERA between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock during his return stateside last season, and allowed three runs in 10 2/3 Cactus League innings this spring.
Though he didn’t break camp with the big league club, he was on everybody’s radar.
“I've been on the end of the meetings when they were like, ‘Hey, we're going to let you go,’” Gray recalled of his camp break meeting. “I was happy to still be going to Round Rock. I wasn't mad. I was just excited to still have a job and still be able to throw a ball and compete and have fun. … I think I surprised them. I don't think they expected me to have a good spring like that.”
Schumaker concurred, joking that he had to introduce himself to Gray at the start of camp just so he could put a face to a name. And Gray has continued to impress every step of the way in Texas.
Gray had yet to allow a run in 12 2/3 innings at Round Rock this year before his call-up.
“Somebody will surprise you in the bullpen," Schumaker said. "I have always thought about that ever since I got to the big leagues. ... Every year, somebody's always surprised me in my career, either as a player or as a manager or coach. And Peyton was absolutely that guy when we went into Spring Training. Right away, he showed us who he was, which was a credit to him, because he came in ready to win a spot. He did everything he could to win a spot. He’s earned this. I'm really proud of him for sticking with this. It's pretty cool.”