Murf Gray, a Madera, California native, looks to impress in his first season as a professional. The Fresno State product, a third baseman by trade, was selected by the Pirates last year in the Competitive Balance Round B. A complete hitter, Gray has the intangibles and talent to succeed at the next level.
Listed at 6 foot 4 and 230 pounds, Gray was a prodigious power hitter in his three years at Fresno State and his standout performance in the Cape Cod League in 2024 put him on the map with major league scouts. In the wood bat league, he hit .329 with five home runs and 27 runs batted in for the Wareham Gatemen.
Baseball America rated Gray as the sixth best prospect in the Cape Cod League in their Top 25 rankings. In what would be his final season at Fresno State in 2025, Gray emerged as one of the premier hitters in the Mountain West Conference, slashing .329/.367/.639 with 18 home runs. He led the Diamond ‘Dogs to another conference championship and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while also being named the Co-Tony Gwynn Player of the Year.
Gray has widely been considered the best prospect out of Fresno State since Aaron Judge. The program has produced several other notable big leaguers, including Kevin Appier, Dan Gladden, and Terry Pendleton. Jordan Luplow is the most recent Fresno State product drafted by Pittsburgh to play in a Pirates uniform. Gray aims to become the next, and the first from his high school, Madera South, to make it to the majors.
Entering his age 22 season, Gray is currently listed on the Florida Complex League Pirates roster. This spring, he got his first taste of major league caliber pitching in four at bats, which included a double, while also participating in the Spring Breakout game against the Tigers’ top prospects.
A question remains as to whether Gray will stick at third base. Regardless of where he ends up in the field, his raw power and bat to ball skills will keep him in the lineup. His patience at the plate in college is an encouraging sign, though it is likely he will have to make some adjustments to his swing.
Among Pirates prospects, Gray is listed at number 20 in MLB Pipeline’s Top 30. Baseball America has him at number 27. Gray has a lot to prove this season, and I believe he has what it takes to make that jump. As a college draft pick, it will be interesting to see how aggressive the Pirates are when it comes to promoting him. A start in rookie ball makes sense, but do not expect him to be there for long. Give him some time, but Murf Gray just might become the Pirates third baseman of the future.
