The flight plan from Dallas to Phoenix takes you past Chase Field. The last time Jon Gray and the Texas Rangers were there, they won Game 5 of the World Series and claimed their first title.
Gray admitted to sneaking a look at it out the window of the plane as he arrived for spring training in Surprise, Ariz.
“It definitely brought back some memories, and they were all good.” Gray said on the first day for pitchers and catchers at the Rangers’ facility. “I’m the window guy (on the plane). I’m always looking out the window.”
His arrival in Phoenix serves as a bit of finality to last season. The Rangers are now defending World Series champions. The players will get their rings soon and raise their banner at the home opener against the Chicago Cubs on March 28.
Now, it’s about looking ahead, not looking back.
“I thought I would kind of hang onto the win forever, but I was ready to get back out there and see what else we can do,” Gray said. “I know it’s been a while since a team has gone back-to-back, and I think we have a good chance. It’s crazy to see right now because of how hard the journey is. But I think we have a really good chance.”
Gray was a starter for most of last season, as he finished with a 9-8 record and a 4.12 ERA in 29 starts. He struck out 142 and walked 54 in 157 1/3 innings.
But a bout with right lower forearm tightness in mid-September put him on the 15-day injured list. He remained on the list until Oct. 15 when the Rangers activated him during the postseason.
At that point Gray moved into a bullpen role. He excelled, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three appearances and 5 2/3 innings. His best work was in Game 3 of the World Series, as he threw three shutout innings after Max Scherzer left the game with an injury. He allowed one hit as the Rangers went on to win the game.
He said he’s fully healthy now and that’s good news for a rotation that will be without three pieces for at least part of the season due to injury — Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle.
Manager Bruce Bochy wouldn’t commit to a starting rotation the first day of spring training. But Gray is clearly a prime candidate to be there when the season starts.
“Everything I had an issue with, the forearm, I took care of that and I added some more things in the training room and the weight room to try and prevent that,” Gray said. “I feel really solid.”
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