Connor Grey

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Connor Grey

|image =

|caption =

|width =

|team = Gastonia Ghost Peppers

|number = 12

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|5|6}}

|birth_place = Frewsburg, New York, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate =

|debutyear =

|debutteam =

|statyear =

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value =

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value =

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value =

|teams =

}}

Connor Grey (born May 6, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Gastonia Ghost Peppers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He is currently a phantom ballplayer, having spent five days on the New York Mets' active roster without appearing in a major league game.

Career

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

Grey graduated from Frewsburg High School in Frewsburg, New York, in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2022/04/getting-close/|title=Getting Close}} He attended St. Bonaventure University, where he played college baseball for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. Grey posted a 4.12 earned run average (ERA) over four seasons.

Grey was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 20th round, with the 599th overall selection, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|title=2016 Arizona Diamondbacks Draft Class|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/draft_class/2016~2/|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}} He made his professional debut for the rookie–level Missoula Osprey, and was later promoted to the Low–A Hillsboro Hops, for whom he made 6 scoreless appearances.{{Cite web|title=Connor Grey Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/2749-connor-grey/|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

Grey split the 2017 season between Hillsboro, the Single–A Kane County Cougars, High–A Visalia Rawhide, and Triple–A Reno Aces. In 18 games (17 starts) between the four affiliates, he combined for a 9–4 record and 2.87 ERA with 91 strikeouts across {{fraction|103|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Connor Grey - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/173029/|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}} On September 1, 2017, while playing for the Kane County, Grey pitched a perfect game against the Clinton LumberKings. It was the first perfect game in Cougars history, and was completed in 100 pitches with eight strikeouts.{{Cite web|title=Grey tosses Cougars' first perfect game|url=https://www.milb.com/news/connor-grey-pitches-kane-county-cougars-first-perfect-game-251889428|access-date=May 21, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}

Grey spent the 2018 campaign with Visalia, logging a 10–9 record and 4.54 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 27 starts. He split 2019 between Visalia, the Double–A Jackson Generals, and Reno, registering a cumulative 4.57 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 24 contests.{{Cite web|title=Connor Grey - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/connor-grey/sa918420/stats?position=P|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} Grey did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=May 21, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} On May 28, 2020, Grey was released by the Diamondbacks organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesobserver.com/sports/local-sports/2020/06/frewsburgs-grey-released-by-dbacks/|title=Frewsburg's Grey released by D'backs}}

=Chicago Dogs=

On January 11, 2021, Grey signed with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league.{{Cite web|title=2021 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/transactions/2021-transactions/|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}} In 6 starts for the Dogs, Grey compiled a 3–2 record and 3.18 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 34 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=RHP Connor Grey's contract transferred to the New York Mets|url=https://thechicagodogs.com/connor-greys-contract-transferred-to-the-new-york-mets/|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=thechicagodogs.com|language=en}}

=New York Mets=

On June 17, 2021, Grey's contract was purchased by the New York Mets organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.observertoday.com/sports/local-sports/2021/06/frewsburg-graduate-grey-signs-deal-with-new-york-mets/|title=Frewsburg graduate Grey signs deal with New York Mets}}{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/sports/2021/07/15/connor-grey-finds-new-path-to-mlb-after-lost-summer |title=Connor Grey finds new path to MLB after lost summer |publisher=Spectrumlocalnews.com |date=July 16, 2021 |accessdate=September 1, 2022}} He made 11 appearances (9 starts) split between the High–A Brooklyn Cyclones and Double–A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, accumulating a 2–5 record and 4.00 ERA with 62 strikeouts across 54 innings.{{Cite web|title=Get To Know A Non-Roster Invitee: Connor Grey|url=http://www.213milesfromshea.com/2023/02/07/get-to-know-a-non-roster-invitee-connor-grey/|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=213milesfromshea.com|language=en}}

On August 22, 2022, Grey's contract was selected by the Mets and he was promoted to the active roster.{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/mets-give-frewsburg-native-former-st-bona-star-connor-grey-his-first-mlb-callup/article_21203460-225f-11ed-800b-6776bc823bd8.html|title=Mets give Frewsburg native, former St. Bona star Connor Grey his first MLB callup|first=Mike |last=Harrington |work=Buffalo News|accessdate=September 1, 2022}} He warmed up in a game against the New York Yankees, but did not enter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-journal.com/sports/local-sports/2022/08/frewsburg-grad-puts-himself-in-rarified-air/|title=Frewsburg Grad Puts Himself In Rarified Air}} On August 27, Grey was optioned back to Triple–A without making an appearance for the Mets, becoming a phantom ballplayer.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Connor Grey: Goes unclaimed|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-connor-grey-goes-unclaimed/amp/|access-date=June 14, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He was designated for assignment by the team on September 1, following the promotion of Deven Marrero.{{cite web|author=Steve Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/09/mets-designate-connor-grey-for-assignment.html |title=Mets Designate Connor Grey For Assignment |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date= |accessdate=September 1, 2022}} Grey cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets on September 4.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Connor Grey: Goes unclaimed|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-connor-grey-goes-unclaimed/amp/|access-date=June 16, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 26 total appearances for Syracuse in 2022, Grey posted a 5–6 record and 6.38 ERA with 88 strikeouts across {{fraction|104|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Mets non-roster invitee to know: Connor Grey|url=https://risingapple.com/posts/ny-mets-non-roster-invitee-connor-grey|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=risingapple.com|language=en}} He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=December 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

On January 13, 2023, Grey re-signed with the Mets on a minor league deal.{{Cite web|title=Mets Sign Bona Alum Connor Grey to Minor League Contract|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/greater-olean/sections/sports/articles/mets-sign-bona-alum-connor-grey-to-minor-league-contract|access-date=2023-01-14|website=tapinro.net|language=en}} Grey was placed on the injured list to begin the year after an MRI revealed a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament.{{Cite web|title=Syracuse Mets Place Former Bona Pitcher on Injured List|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/greater-olean/sections/sports/articles/syracuse-mets-place-former-bona-pitcher-on-injured-list|access-date=June 16, 2023|website=tapinto.net|language=en}} He later underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entirety of the 2023 season as a result.{{Cite web|title=SBU Baseball Alum Connor Grey Is Recovering After Injury|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/greater-olean/sections/sports/articles/sbu-baseball-alum-connor-grey-is-recovering-after-injury|access-date=June 8, 2024|website=tapinto.net|language=en}} Grey elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 17, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Gastonia Ghost Peppers=

On April 23, 2025, Grey signed with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Gastonia Signs RHP Connor Grey & OF Cole Roederer|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/gastonia-signs-rhp-connor-grey--of-cole-roederer/n-6218059|access-date=April 24, 2025|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}}