Who is he and where did he come from?
He’s Tristan Gray, and he comes from Missouri City, Texas. He went to Elkins High School, which also produced longtime big leaguers in Matt Carpenter and James Loney. While MLB talent has gone through
Elkins, the indoor drumline might have been more of a draw. They had a dynasty from 2001 to 2008, winning six state titles over that span. Gray was presumably more interested in baseball than drums, going on to play college baseball at Rice and summer ball with the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League.
In the majors, he’s played for three different teams. He spent 2025 with the Rays and was acquired for Luis Guerrero ahead of the 40-man roster deadline on Tuesday.
What position does he play?
Infield! All of the infield spots, to be precise. Most of his appearances in 2025 came at second base, but he played shortstop, first, and third base as well.
Is he any good?
The numbers that most people read say no. He’s appeared in 47 games over three seasons for three teams. In those 47 games, he slashed .207/.264/.369 with a 28.7% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate. There are reasons to like Gray, though.
His Baseball Savant page is fairly red, though he’s not qualified in most categories. I won’t read into the high xwOBA or average exit velocity, because we’re talking about 61 batted balls. What I will try to sell you on, however, is bat speed. Gray’s average bat speed of 74.4 mph is well above the league average of 71.8 mph. It’s only 144 swings, but that’s more than enough to draw a meaningful conclusion. Longer swings tend to be faster, but Gray’s swing is about league average in length, so it’s not as if he’s selling out to swing hard. His bat-to-ball skills need to be improved, evidenced by his 31.9% whiff rate, but his bat speed itself is something to dream on.
I know that might seem like grasping at straws, but let me draw a comparison for you. In 2024, the Red Sox claimed Romy Gonzalez off waivers from the White Sox. Through his first three seasons, Gonzalez had slashed .222/.239/.361 in 86 games. He whiffed frequently and wasn’t a productive offensive player. He still swings and misses often, but he’s turned into a solid platoon bat in part thanks to his bat speed, which is almost identical to Gray’s, and his ability to impact the baseball. I’m not saying Tristan Gray is going to be Romy Gonzalez, but it’s the immediate comparison that came to mind.
Show me a cool highlight.
Here’s Gray putting the bat speed to work, hitting a ball 400 feet off a lefty. Not bad.
If long home runs against same-handed pitchers aren’t your speed, here’s a look at the 2006 Elkins drumline in competition in the middle of their dynasty.
What’s he doing in his picture up there?
He’s running out to an unspecified infield position. The statistics say that second base is the best guess for where he’s headed, but he appears to be running to shortstop or third base.
What’s his role on the 2026 Red Sox?
Gray has an option remaining, which makes him a nice depth piece for the Red Sox. He’ll bounce between Worcester and Boston as a utility man, filling in for injuries and being a left-handed bat off the bench. If he plays his way into regular playing time, that’s great. If he doesn’t, he’s an easy DFA candidate to make room for someone else.
