Texas notes: Gray goes full speed ahead

Jon Gray could've been a New York Yankee. Instead, he just wanted to be the best pitcher he could be.

Now the Colorado Rockies' top prospect, the 22-year-old right-hander is in his first season with Double-A Tulsa after rejecting both the Kansas City Royals out of high school and the Yankees out of junior college.

"That was really tough. I just knew I could be something better," Gray said of his decision to pass on the pinstripes and transfer to Oklahoma after the Yankees drafted him in the 10th round out of Eastern Oklahoma State Junior College in 2011.

Gray went 10-3 with a 1.64 ERA his junior year with the Sooners, striking out 147 and walking 24 in 126 innings. The Rockies then took Gray third overall last year and gave him a franchise-record $4.8 million bonus.

"Something told me I was going to be a lot better," Gray said of his decision to delay pro ball for his stint with the Sooners. "I just felt I could be a lot better and wasn't anywhere close to my potential."

Gray (3-2, 3.22 ERA) is far from alone on the Tulsa staff when it comes to potential or notoriety. The Drillers' staff boasts two of the league's top arms in right-hander Daniel Winkler (5-1 with a league-best 1.07 ERA) and lefty Tyler Anderson (3-1, 2.40 ERA).

Right-hander Eddie Butler (1-4, 3.45 ERA) is right behind Gray at the top of the Rockies' prospect list, and the staff leads the league with a 2.77 ERA. That has helped Tulsa stay in the thick of a tight three-team race in the North Division.

With such talent handy, every day is a pitching clinic, Gray said.

"Before every start we get in a group and talk about the hitters we're going to face," Gray said. "What worked well when they pitched against them, what their strengths and weaknesses are."

Gray noted the coziness of the league with its eight-team, two-division format, which allows pitchers multiple chances to face certain hitters, which can be both good and bad as one transitions to Double-A.

"At first it kind of hit me pretty hard -- I struggled a little bit," said Gray, 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA between the Rookie and Class A Advanced levels last year. "It's just learning how to pitch to these guys. We're playing the same teams all the time, so I've kind of learned a lot from them and know how to pitch certain guys."

With a fastball, slider and newly developed changeup, Gray, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, feels the Rockies are beginning to stretch him out after limiting his innings last year.

"I like to go in there and stay in as long as I can and battle," he said.

Gray knows he can expect even more battles when he eventually reaches hitter-friendly Coors Field, but with a four-seam fastball that reaches the high 90s and solid control, Gray feels he's ready for the big time.

"I thought I could fit in pretty well just being a power pitcher," he said. "I think I'd have an advantage over most guys. If you can pitch there you can pitch anywhere. I just think it's a thing that's going to make you better."

In brief

Power struggle: Arkansas' Brian Hernandez hit a home run in Dickey-Stephens Park on Saturday to end a 17-game streak without a long ball by the home team. Until Hernandez's drive, Arkansas was the only team in affiliated baseball without a home run in its home park this year.

Trouble at home: Every team in the Texas League North has a losing record at home and a winning record on the road. Arkansas, Tulsa, Springfield and Northwest Arkansas were a combined 21-49 at home and 43-27 on the road entering Sunday.

Rocky rehab: Texas Rangers lefty and former MLB All-Star Joe Saunders had a tough start for Frisco on Saturday as he continued to rehab an injured ankle. The Corpus Christi Hooks got to Saunders for four runs on seven hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. Making his second rehab start, Saunders struck out two and gave up a two-out home run to Matt Duffy in the first inning of a 5-1 defeat.