Colorado Rockies Fans: Any Concern About Jon Gray?

Mar 1, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Jon Gray poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Gray has had a tough go of it with the Colorado Rockies AAA affiliate in Albuquerque. Are you worried about it?

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After being taken by the Colorado Rockies in the first round (4th overall) in the 2013 draft, Jon Gray looked like about a sure a thing as, well, any big-time college pitcher can be. He wasn’t quite on a Stephen Strasburg level, of course, but considering his power fastball and big-time college baseball experience, the Rockies expected him to shoot through the minor league system very quickly.

And that he did, rising to AAA by the start of 2015, just his third professional season (and second full pro season after being drafted in June of 2013). After utterly dominating rookie ball and the California League, he grew leaps and bounds in AA in 2014, and a strong Spring Training – right up until his final spring start against the Chicago Cubs – had some Rockies fans wondering how quickly he’d be in Denver.

Alas, he started in AAA Albuquerque (a smart move by the Rockies’ organization), and in his first four games there, well… it hasn’t been pretty.

Through Friday, he’d allowed 32 hits and 8 walks in 17.2 innings, good for a 2.264 WHIP and an 0-3 record with a 10.70 ERA. Those are not good numbers, especially considering how he’d been throwing the ball the past several years.

So, I wanted to ask the question of you: are you worried about Jon Gray’s numbers early in Albuquerque? Enjoy this poll, friends:

I know, it’s still a relatively young season, but there has to be some concern that, you know, he’s getting rocked by AAA hitters. 32 hits in 17 innings is… a lot. Something in me is a little concerned, but, hence the poll; I could very well be alone in that thought.

On the flip side, though, he is four years younger than the average AAA player, so his experience will surely catch up to the level of play where he finds himself. And, this is the first time he’s ever been in AAA, which is a big jump from AA, even, let alone the jump he’s about to make to the big leagues.

Some of the shine may have worn off Gray in the early going in Albuquerque, but he is still just as exciting of a player as he was three weeks ago. This year may tell us, if nothing else, about his mental makeup as a player when faced with serious adversity. If he can learn it now, it’ll benefit the Rockies at the big league level in the future.

If not… well, remember Jason Young? Greg Reynolds?

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