Twins place two-time All-Star SP Sonny Gray on IL with pectoral strain
The Minnesota Twins still lead the AL Central by five games entering play on Thursday, but their adversity continues to be tested. The Twins have been hit hard by both COVID-19 and the injury bug in recent weeks like few other teams in the league, and now, they've lost another one of their top starting pitchers.
Gray's injury comes as both All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa and standout rookie hurler Joe Ryan remain on the COVID-19 injured list. Top prospect and former No. 1 overall draft pick Royce Lewis departed Sunday's contest against the Kansas City Royals — when Gray got injured — and was placed on the IL on Monday.
A 2015 All-Star with the Oakland Athletics and a 2019 All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds, Gray is 3-1 this year and has pitched to a 2.41 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 33 2/3 innings. Gray spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with the A's and was with the New York Yankees for the stretch run in 2017 and all of 2018.
He was with the Reds for the last three seasons before being traded to Minnesota in March.
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