2 min read • April 02, 2022
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Veteran starter Sonny Gray will attempt to rebound from a tumultuous 2021 campaign as a key piece of the new-look Twins.
A host of short-term injuries piled up for the 32-year-old, beginning with a back issue in April and followed by a groin strain in June and a rib cage injury in July.
The collection of ailments limited Gray to 4.19 ERA and 19 HR allowed across 135.1 innings pitched, but after an offseason of rehab, should not linger heading into 2022.
Gray has not pitched more than 175 innings since 2015 because of a run of chronic issues, none more concerning or strange than the strained right trapezius and extensor muscles and fluid buildup that he fought through in 2016.
That summer of forearm and triceps tightness followed a dominant age-25 season that saw Gray finish 3rd in Cy Young voting with a 2.73 ERA and league-high 2 shutouts for the Oakland A’s.
Less-than-stellar seasons full of IR stints in New York and Cincinnati followed, before a resurgent 208-strikeout 2019 season provided hope as Gray entered his 30s.
None of his injuries are long-term or significant, but small injuries over time can collect and become bigger issues for a pitcher.
Gray was the presumed opening day starter for Minnesota, but has been moved down in the rotation in favor of rookie Joe Ryan partly because of Gray’s slower buildup to the season, as the prep time was shortened by the lockout.
Hopefully Gray can finish this season IL-free, but he will enter 2022 fresh and ready to go.
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