The San Francisco Giants took a calculated risk on Him two offseasons ago, and it’s clearly paying off.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Ray was acquired by the Giants despite the knowledge that he wouldn’t be available at the start of the 2024 season. In exchange, San Francisco sent outfielder Mitch Haniger, pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, and cash to the Seattle Mariners.
His 2024 campaign was essentially a reset. He returned to the big leagues in July and made seven starts, posting a 3-2 record with a 4.70 ERA, along with 43 strikeouts and 15 walks, before a hip injury prematurely ended his season.
There was optimism that Ray could return to his 2021 form — the year he won the American League Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays.
That year, Ray was dominant, finishing with a 13-7 record and an AL-best 2.84 ERA. He also led the league in starts (32), innings pitched (193.1), and strikeouts (248 — tops in MLB). His 6.9 bWAR also led the American League, helping him earn the Cy Young and a 15th-place finish in MVP voting.
Now 33, Ray may actually be pitching at an even higher level this season. He’s become a key factor in the Giants’ surprising success, with his performance in May serving as a clear indicator of his impressive resurgence.
Robbie Ray’s Magnificent May
The lefty was outstanding in May, taking the mound for all six of his scheduled starts and compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.38 ERA. Each outing met the criteria for a quality start, meaning he went at least six innings and surrendered no more than three earned runs.
Over those six games, Ray tossed 39 innings, gave up just six earned runs, struck out 45 batters, and issued 11 walks. His strikeouts per nine innings sat at 10.4, and he posted a stellar 0.87 WHIP.
These May stats only highlight what’s been a strong season overall. He holds a 7-1 record with a 2.43 ERA across 70.1 innings. He’s logged eight quality starts in 12 appearances, with 78 strikeouts, 30 walks, a 10.9 K/9 rate, and a 1.11 WHIP. He’s allowed just 19 earned runs all year.
Ray’s only previous All-Star nod came in 2017 with the Diamondbacks, when he went 15-5 with a 2.89 ERA and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young voting.
This year, he’s on track for a second All-Star appearance and is emerging as an early favorite for another Cy Young Award—this time in the National League.
The Giants’ decision to acquire Ray was partly influenced by the remaining years on his Seattle contract. Since he chose not to opt out after the 2024 season, he’s under contract with San Francisco through 2026 at $25 million per year.
So far, the move looks like a home run.
Be the first to comment