Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray has no interest in being pulled from games after just four innings this season. Talking Sunday after pitching three shutout innings against the Red Sox in a spring training game, Gray, who was critical of the short leash the Twins had on starters last season, made it very clear that he expects to pitch deeper into games in his second season with Minnesota.
“I don’t think we’re interested in going four innings and being happy. I feel like we had a group last year that was pretty content with going four innings, and [where] going four innings and five innings is considered a good start,” said Gray.
“I disagreed with that then. I disagree with that now, but I feel like the guys that we have aren’t content with it either, which is what you want, especially as a rotation. You want to build off each other. You don’t want to go out there and throw four innings and walk away happy about it.”
Sonny Gray declared himself ready for the 2023 season after three shutout innings vs. Boston today, then added this interesting comment about the Twins' 2023 rotation: pic.twitter.com/0IgwhGDUDE
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) March 26, 2023
Minnesota used 14 different starting pitchers last season and totals just 35 quality starts. That was 59 fewer quality starts than the Houston Astros, who won the World Series.
In 24 starts last season, Gray averaged 4.9 innings, his lowest since 2018 when averaged 4.3 innings in 23 starts and seven bullpen appearances for the Reds.
Gray’s average innings per start in his career:
- 2022 – 4.9
- 2021 – 5.1
- 2020 – 5.0 (11 appearances)
- 2019 – 5.6
- 2018 – 4.3 (30 appearances, 23 starts)
- 2017 – 6.0 (1 complete game)
- 2016 – 5.3
- 2015 – 6.7 (3 complete games)
- 2014 – 6.6 (2 complete games)
- 2013 – 5.3 (12 appearances, 10 starts)
Late last season he had similar comments when he said “I would like to pitch deep into ballgames. So, that’s what I would like to do.”
The Twins finish up spring training with two final games against the Pirates on Monday and Tuesday before opening the regular season Thursday at Kansas City.
