Marauders Murf Gray Happy to be Batting Balls in Bradenton

Murf Gray is a baseball rat, and he’s living his dream with the Bradenton Marauders.

On Sunday, as the Marauders and Palm Beach Cardinals finished up the first homestand of the season at LECOM Park, Gray’s bat was heating up. With his first eight Florida State League games behind him, Gray is second on the team in batting average. 29 at-bats have produced 10 hits, six RBIs, five runs, and a .345 average.

Leading the Marauders with a .958 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), it’s clear that Gray is seeing the ball well in the batter’s box. Professional baseball is coming along quite nicely for Gray, last year’s 73rd overall MLB draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. There is no second-guessing about his skills and expectations in Murf’s voice. He is confident but not cocky.

After two seasons playing college ball at Fresno State University, Gray’s performances in the Mountain West Conference sold the Pirates on his potential. 121 games brought about 149 hits, 125 RBIs, 275 total bases, and a .310 average. Very impressive statistics for a young man playing home games at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

“I always wanted to play this game since I was little. This is the best thing that could have happened in my life. To wake up and throw a jersey on for my job. It’s amazing,” Gray said prior to Saturday’s game.

Gray’s hot bat and smooth play at third base don’t surprise those who have followed his journey. Success is expected for the Madera, California native. Getting a taste of the Pirate way last summer in four games while playing for the club’s Complex League team at Pirate City eased Gray’s transition to the organization.

“ With those four games, I got to experience the heat and meet a lot of the international players. I’m where I’m supposed to be,” says Gray, who, during his brief introduction to baseball at Pirate City, was playing at third base as well as taking reps at first base. “The guys were grinding just like me.”

Once spring training began in February, Gray tells of receiving an even deeper understanding of what the expectations are to succeed as a pro. Picking the baseball brains of the older guys that had been through training camp before, as well as conversations with big leaguers, motivated Gray for his season ahead with the Marauders.

“This game is every day. You have to take care of your body, eat right, and concentrate on the little things. Little things matter,” Gray explains.

Gray is clearly a well-grounded person. He tells of coming from a close family. There are daily phone calls home, communication through family group chats, and continual texts from loved ones. This isn’t surprising, as Gray paints Madera as a place with a small-town vibe in the San Joaquin Valley wine country.

“Growing up there, everybody knows everybody. The biggest thing there is our agriculture. (Madera) is a small town committed to sports like baseball, football, and basketball.”

With Gray’s father growing up in the Bay Area, Murf is a proud fan of the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, and the NFL 49ers.

After trying shortstop “a little” and second base, once in college, “baseball’s hot corner” is where Gray felt most comfortable. Making the difficult plays excited Gray. His hard work and enthusiasm paid off. The entire draft process still elicits a broad smile from Gray.
“I was sitting in my living room with my family, and the people who I have in my inner circle. We were all so excited. Then I get a call from my agent. He says, ‘Hey, you might be up here.’ The house started rocking when I heard my name called. I’m glad to be a Pittsburgh Pirate.”

As the mysteries of Gray’s playing abilities unfold with the Marauders in his rookie season, the one question about the slugging third baseman’s nickname is intriguing. How and when did the popular Marauder go from Triston Allen Gray to Murf?

“I woke up on Saturday morning, getting ready to go to Chuck E. Cheese, and I was watching on TV the Smurfs movie. So, when I get to Chuck E. Cheese, I’m telling people my name is Murf. I forgot to throw the S on there. So, it stuck since I was about three years old. I love it.”

As polite as he is smooth on the bases, Murf Gray demonstrates all the characteristics that a manager would like, and teammates love on the diamond – determination, commitment, and pride. And for now, LECOM Park is fortunate to have him.