Tristan Colby Gray Bio
Tristan Colby Gray (born March 22, 1996) is an American professional baseball infielder who currently plays for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Gray has spent portions of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox organizations before joining the Twins in 2026. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Rice University, Gray developed into a power-hitting infielder known for his defensive versatility across multiple positions. He made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay in September 2023 and has accumulated 38 runs batted in across his major league appearances.
Early Life and Background
Gray was born on March 22, 1996, and graduated from Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, in 2014. During his senior year of high school, he established himself as a prolific hitter, posting a .456 batting average accompanied by 12 doubles and 23 runs batted in. His outstanding high school performance attracted attention from MLB scouts, leading to his selection by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
Rather than signing with the Mets, Gray chose to pursue his education and continue his baseball development at Rice University, where he played for the Rice Owls college baseball program. His decision to attend Rice proved instrumental in shaping his professional career trajectory.
Path to Professional Baseball
Gray arrived at Rice University in 2015 and immediately contributed as a freshman, appearing in 56 games while batting .247 with three home runs and 25 runs batted in. His sophomore season in 2016 was interrupted by injury, but he returned to post impressive numbers, slashing .295/.353/.462 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in across 42 games. Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Gray played in the Cape Cod Baseball League during the summer months, developing his skills against top collegiate competition.
His most productive college season came in 2017 as a junior, when Gray broke out with a .313 batting average complemented by an on-base percentage of .399 and a slugging percentage of .540. He hit eight home runs and drove in 39 runs in just 47 games. His stellar performance earned him recognition as a Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star in 2016, validating his status as one of the top collegiate hitters in the country. Following his junior season, Gray entered the 2017 MLB Draft.
Tristan Colby Gray Career
Pittsburgh Pirates (2017–2018)
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gray in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization and began his professional career with the West Virginia Black Bears of the Low-A New York-Penn League. Gray made an immediate impact, earning All-Star honors while batting .269 with seven home runs and 37 runs batted in across 53 games. His combination of power and contact ability stood out at the minor league level.
Tampa Bay Rays Organization (2018–2023, 2025)
On February 22, 2018, the Pirates traded Gray along with Daniel Hudson and cash to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for outfielder Corey Dickerson. The trade marked a significant opportunity for Gray as he joined a Rays organization known for developing talent. He spent the 2018 season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High-A Florida State League, compiling a .238 batting average with 13 home runs and 69 runs batted in across 118 games.
Gray advanced to Double-A in 2019, playing for the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League. He posted a .225 batting average with a .332 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage, adding 17 home runs and 64 runs batted in over 122 games. The 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellation of minor league baseball. He returned in 2021 with the Durham Bulls of Triple-A East, slashing .246/.318/.428 with eight home runs and 33 runs batted in across 75 games.
In 2022, Gray returned to Durham and delivered his best minor league season, batting .225 but connecting for 33 home runs and 89 runs batted in across 124 games. His power production earned him consideration for a major league promotion. To open the 2023 season, Gray remained with Durham and continued his strong performance, batting .234 with a .309 on-base percentage and .482 slugging percentage. He hit 28 home runs and drove in a career-high 91 runs in 127 games.
His breakthrough arrived on September 16, 2023, when the Rays selected Gray to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the majors for the first time after Taylor Walls was placed on the paternity list. In two games with Tampa Bay, he went 2-for-5 with a home run and one run batted in, making an immediate impression. Following the season, the Rays removed Gray from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to Triple-A Durham. He elected free agency on November 6, 2023.
Miami Marlins (2024)
Gray signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on November 16, 2023. He began the 2024 season with the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, where he batted .227/.301/.523 with 10 home runs and 23 runs batted in across 34 games. His performance earned a promotion to the majors, as the Marlins selected his contract on May 12, 2024. Gray appeared in seven games for Miami, going 0-for-7 at the plate, and was designated for assignment on August 26, 2024.
Oakland Athletics (2024)
On August 27, 2024, Gray was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. He appeared in eight games with Oakland, going 3-for-21 (.143) with three walks. Following the season on October 31, 2024, Gray was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the organization that originally drafted him.
Chicago White Sox (2025)
Gray was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on January 20, 2025, and after clearing waivers, he elected free agency. On February 7, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox selected his contract to the 40-man roster, but he was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte Knights on July 5, 2025.
Return to Tampa Bay (2025)
On July 26, 2025, the White Sox traded Gray back to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. In 30 appearances with Tampa Bay during his second stint, he batted .231 with a .282 on-base percentage and .410 slugging percentage, adding three home runs and nine runs batted in.
Minnesota Twins (2026–Present)
On November 18, 2025, Gray was traded to the Boston Red Sox organization. Less than two months later, on January 21, 2026, the Red Sox traded him to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league catcher Nate Baez. Gray joined the Twins as a versatile infielder providing depth at multiple positions. He made his presence felt early in the season, hitting a grand slam off Yoendrys Gómez of the Tampa Bay Rays on April 3, 2026, for his first home run as a Twin. He connected on another grand slam on June 1 against the Chicago White Sox.
Playing Style and Strengths
Gray has developed a reputation as a power-hitting infielder with the ability to drive the ball out of the park. His defensive versatility allows him to play multiple positions across the infield, making him a valuable asset for teams seeking bench depth and positional flexibility. He has shown the capacity to produce at a high level in Triple-A, particularly in the power categories, though his major league sample size remains limited.
Tristan Colby Gray Career Statistics
Gray has appeared in parts of multiple major league seasons across four organizations. Through June 19, 2026, he has accumulated eight home runs and 38 runs batted in while posting a .225 batting average. His minor league career has been highlighted by consistent power production, including multiple 20-plus home run seasons at the Triple-A level.
Major League Highlights
Gray made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in September 2023, collecting his first career home run during his debut series. He has since appeared with the Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays (second stint), and Minnesota Twins. His two grand slams in 2026 represented significant milestones early in his Twins tenure, demonstrating his ability to deliver in clutch situations.
Minor League Achievements
Prior to his major league promotion, Gray earned recognition at every minor league level, including All-Star honors with the West Virginia Black Bears in his professional debut season. His 91 runs batted in during the 2023 season at Triple-A Durham represented a career high and solidified his status as a prospect ready for major league action.
| Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | Runs Batted In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (Career) | 47 | .225 | 8 | 38 |
| Triple-A Durham (2023) | 127 | .234 | 28 | 91 |
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for Gray as he navigated through multiple organizations. After beginning the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and electing free agency, he signed with the Chicago White Sox in February. His contract was selected to the major league roster, but he spent most of the first half of the season at Triple-A Charlotte before being optioned back to the minors in July. The trade to Tampa Bay in late July provided him with an opportunity to return to the organization where he first reached the majors. He appeared in 30 games during his second stint with the Rays, showing modest production with three home runs and nine runs batted in. His versatility and power potential kept him in consideration for major league roster spots across multiple clubs throughout the season.