For players in some areas of the country, it can be particularly difficult to get seen.
While states like Florida, Texas, California and Georgia typically dominate the conversation when it comes to prep talent, the truth is there’s good players everywhere these days, you just need to look for them. Better yet, play for a program that helps players get seen.
For Ohio native Austin Gray, his time with the Midwest Marlins has helped the 2025 grad class standout to do just that.
“It’s been a little bit of a challenge, I’ve had to do a lot of social media stuff, but Coach (Ryan) Weaver, he’s talked to Purdue about me a little bit, and I’ve gone to some showcase camps at colleges trying to get my name out there a little bit more,” he said.
“I’m not really close to (a college commitment) right now, and I haven’t physically talked to colleges myself yet, but I’m still working on it. I don’t think about it too much, because with the new recruiting rules, I know next summer is going to be a big summer, so right now, I’m not thinking about it too much. Just getting ready for high school season, really.”
Having had a big summer this year has surely helped make that process a lot easier. A catcher and second baseman, Gray earned his way to some of the biggest events the Future Stars Series has with a strong showing at the Underclass Combine in Nashville, one in which he impressed the FSS scouting staff.
“Like the leadership and the feel for game” and “upside is here” stand out from the notes of two different scouts who saw him there, but it was both at the Underclass Elite in Boston and Caribbean Classic in the Dominican Republic where he was really able to shine on the bigger stage.
Gray — who has focused on improving on both his arm strength and his overall physical strength, as well as his receiving skills and getting faster since we last saw him — says he’s on a lifting program with a strength coach from The University of Cincinnati and is working with a speed trainer, clearly committed to putting in the work to keep his name on the map and hopefully get his name on the dotted line with a college.
His versatility will likely benefit him in that search, but Gray, who has been doing machine work at his high school to improve those receiving skills, says catching is more of his focus at the moment, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
“I’ll play anywhere they want me to,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter to me.”
Indeed, Gray has shown he can handle both of his primary positions, putting that to good use to try to earn a spot while at Shelby Park in Nashville in standing out amongst a crowded field of players.
“Going into it, I was thinking to go have fun, but to go show what I can do,” he said. “There’s a bunch of talent in the country, so going into it, it was like, ‘I feel like I’m good enough to get to the next event,’ but I’ll see what happens, just go perform…there’s a lot of other kids in the country who have the same dream as me and want to go play college baseball and want to play (in the big leagues).”
In the meantime, however, Gray got his first taste of professional baseball at the Underclass Elite, where he played at Dunkin’ Donuts Park — home of the Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate for the Colorado Rockies — where he was lauded for his “good swing and has some impact power currently,” as well as high marks for his approach at the plate and his throwing ability.
“Honestly, that was a really cool experience,” he said. “Going and playing on a professional field was sweet, the facilities were super nice. I feel like I had a good showing out there. I kind of got used to it quick, I was just taking it all in when I got there, and then it was like, ‘All right, let’s go.'”
Gray also stood out in the DR, which is where we saw him last, but knows he’ll have to continue the hard work that got him there to continue to be seen.
“Just getting my name out there, going and performing,” he said. “I want to make sure I work really hard this offseason to go perform this summer and this high school spring coming up.”
FUTURE STARS SCOUTING REPORT
- Good balance & use of field at the plate with sound swing and setup
- Present impact gap power with some future HR production
- Arm strength & athleticism to fit catcher spot
- Projectable game awareness
- Future 50-grade hit
- Barrel control and approach represents good foundation for future
- Should be a good baserunner with instincts and first-step quickness
- Underclass Premier, Fresh 50 exceed expectations in Hartford - September 16, 2024
- Reports: Romo set to become fifth FSS alum to reach majors - August 16, 2024
- Recap: 2024 Future Stars Series 2027/2028 Grad Class National Tournaments - August 8, 2024
