Colorado Rockies GM Jeff Bridich is looking for team ace Jon Gray to get back on track.
Gray, who was the team’s No. 3 overall pick in 2013, went 10-4 last season with a 3.67 ERA and was the Rockies’ best starter. This season has been a different story as he’s only gone 6-6 with a 5.66 ERA. That’s not cutting it for the Rockies, who want something more.
“When he’s been good, he’s been really good. When he’s been bad, it’s been tough to watch,” Bridich told MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. “We need him to step up. This is his third full season at this level. There are still lessons he’s learning. But he’s no longer a young kid in this league, at this level. He needs to step up, and we need to help him find a way to become more consistent.”
Bridich indicated that sending Gray to the minors isn’t really much of an option, so the team is relying on him to figure things out.
Gray started the team’s wild-card playoff game last year and was this year’s Opening Day starter. Though he hasn’t been living up to those billings, there is reason to believe in a turnaround. He has the best strikeout to walk ratio on staff and has allowed the fewest home runs among the team’s starters. It seems he has been unlucky with so many hits falling, so if that begins to turn, so should his results.
