ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - If there was any doubt on who the St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day starter is when the team heads to Los Angeles to play Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers on March 28th, it was put to rest Tuesday morning.
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol officially announced Tuesday that Gray, who set to make his Spring Training debut with the Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox, would unsurprisingly, be the Cardinals Opening Day starter for the club.
Gray joined the Cardinals in November 2023, signing a three-year deal worth $75 million, with a fourth-year option that could take the deal up to $100 million. The 2023 American League Cy-Young runner up has already been a positive impact to the clubhouse already.
"I think we nailed it bringing this guy in," said Marmol. "He's done a phenomenal job in not only what he says but how he goes about it. It's a great example for everybody else."
Marmol credits Gray's communication as his biggest positive trait so it let's him be able to forge a relationship with not only future backstopping partner Willson Contreras, but also the younger pitchers in the team.
"It's contagious in how he thinks about the game," Marmol explains. "He's just so good at talking through it and getting guys to listen to him at all times. He does a good job at explaining the "why" he does something or the way he takes the ball to his side and the focus for that day, so it's good for the young guys to see that."
Gray will make his Cardinals debut officially Tuesday as he starts in the club's first Spring Training home game against the Boston Red Sox.