Gray earns 2nd straight Clemente nomination

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

WASHINGTON -- Josiah Gray’s 2024 season was cut short by Tommy John surgery, but that didn’t sideline the right-hander from his involvement in the Washington, D.C., community.

Gray was recognized as the Nationals’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee for the second consecutive year.

• VOTE NOW: 2024 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One

“It means a lot,” Gray said. “At the end of the day, you don’t do it for recognition. You do it for the love of the game, the love of people, the love of where you are and being able to give back.”

Gray, 26, had a deep respect for the Roberto Clemente Award as he pursued the Major Leagues. When he made his big league pitching debut on July 20, 2021, he wanted to make a difference. Gray was named the Nationals' Youth Baseball Academy Ambassador in September 2022.

“For me, it's the gratitude of the game,” Gray said. “With every moment that I’m able to go to the Youth Academy and see the smiles on the kids’ faces and provide baseball instruction or funny stories or any sort of experience with them, I think it brings me back to my childhood and how crazy it would have been to know a big leaguer, be on a first-name basis. Those little bits and pieces, I really appreciate and really enjoy.”

Through Gray’s involvement in the community, he is dedicated to growing baseball by minimizing barriers of participation and promoting education. After completing his undergraduate degree in business and economics summa cum laude from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., in January, Gray was selected to deliver the keynote address at the Academy’s graduation ceremony in June. Later that day at Nationals Park, he was surprised by an on-field diploma presentation and was joined by the Scholar Athletes for a celebratory cap toss.

Gray also is the first Nationals Player Ambassador to launch a bespoke event. The second annual “Glow & Throw with JoJo,” a night of glow-in-the-dark baseball activities at the Academy, was held on Monday for Scholar Athletes in the HUSTLE program. Gray was joined by teammates CJ Abrams, DJ Herz, Drew Millas, Nasim Nuñez, Mitchell Parker and Eduardo Salazar.

“While we visit throughout the season while we're here, they can always feel like the Nationals are going to be attached to what they're doing, whether it's in season or out of season,” Gray said. “I’m just trying to pass on that impact. Then when the guys come, it makes it even better. … All the kids had fun. Being able to give them those moments, it means the world.”

On team off-days and during the offseason, Gray has gone to high school games to support the Nationals' Nike RBI players, helped coach in the Academy’s entry-level program and joined Scholar Athletes at the DREAM Series and MLB’s All-Star Commissioner’s Cup.

“That’s just the person he is,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He understands the big part about giving back, and he’s unbelievable -- he really is. He’s here when we’re here, he’s on the top step watching all the games, and then he’s rehabbing all morning long. His day’s full. And then going out and doing stuff for the community, that says a lot about him and what he means to not only the Washington Nationals, but to our community.”