Sonny Gray is happy with his performance on the mound.
The 29-year-old Reds starter has had a bounce-back year and once again made the All-Star team after struggling with the Yankees in 2018. He said this season has been “special” so far.
“I think everyone kind of knows that New York wasn’t a great fit for me, place for me, last year,” Gray told reporters Monday, via the New York Post. “It just didn’t seem to work out, for whatever reason. But looking back, I wouldn’t change one thing about it. I wouldn’t change the ups and downs that I had experienced on a personal level and on the baseball field level.”
Gray finished 2018, his only full season with the Yankees, with a 4.90 ERA and eventually lost his spot in the rotation. He was sent from New York to Cincinnati as part of a three-team trade in January.
“I just tried to stay resilient as long as possible,” Gray said. “I always tried to show up at the clubhouse with a smile on my face. I think my teammates would say the same. I tried to show up in a positive mood with a smile on my face and do whatever I could to get better and ultimately try and win a game that day.”
Gray has been one of the Reds best pitchers this season as he holds a 5-5 record with a 3.59 ERA in 17 starts. He has struck out 103 and walked 33 in 90 1/3 innings.
Gray said his time with the Yankees was “absolutely” a positive experience.
“I think I learned a lot about myself,” Gray said. “I think being able to come back after struggling, and after going through a lot, emotionally and going through a lot on the field, to come back, I feel like I’ve learned so much about myself.”
Gray is set to make his second All-Star appearance Tuesday. He also made the team while with the A’s in 2015.