Was that really Ken Ray?
Making his first Major League appearance in seven years Thursday, Ray's first assignment was to retire Barry Bonds. Four pitches later, the 31 year-old Braves reliever had recorded a strikeout and given many friends from yesteryear a reason to wonder if this was truly him.
"A lot of them had no idea I was even with Atlanta until they flipped on the television and were watching just because of Bonds chasing the home run record," Ray said. "Some of them called me just to see if it was me."
Ray, who was promoted from Triple-A Richmond early Thursday morning, was making his National League debut. In doing so, he was playing for his 16th different team in his 14th different league. Needless to say, it's been quite a journey since he was selected by the Royals out of suburban Atlanta's Roswell High School in the 1993 draft.
Through his various Minor League stops, which included stints in three independent leagues, his family remained supportive. Thus, he was filled with emotion after listening to the messages left by people like his grandmother.
"A couple of them I listened to were kind of heartfelt," Ray said. "I get kind of choked up listening to some of them because a lot of my family members have stuck with me through a lot of the hard times."
After making 13 appearances for the Royals in 1999, he began having arm problems. He underwent shoulder surgery during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. When he finally got most of his strength back in 2003, a lack of velocity forced him to develop the changeup that could keep him in Atlanta for an extended period.
With that pitch and a fastball that is regularly clocked in the mid-90s, Braves manager Bobby Cox believes the right-hander will be very successful against left-handed hitters. Last year at Triple-A Richmond, Ray limited them to a .216 batting average. Right-handers batted .315 against him, however.
"He's got one of the dirtiest changeups I've ever caught," said Braves catcher Brian McCann, who gave the changeup sign for each of the four pitches that were delivered to Bonds.
When a tired Ray returned to his hotel Thursday evening, he wasn't thinking as much about Bonds as he was the fact that he was wearing a Braves uniform. It's the one that his favorite players from yesteryear were wearing when, as a kid, he'd go to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
"It was a bonus to be able to face Barry Bonds and do what I did," Ray said. "But really to do it in this uniform means the most to me."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com.
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