Robbie Ray was born on October 1, 1991, in Brentwood, Tennessee. Growing up in the Nashville area, Ray often played youth baseball on travel teams alongside future Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Mookie Betts.
Although he and Betts were on the same travel teams, they played against each other at their respective high schools, with Ray attending Brentwood and Betts at John Overton. During his senior year of high school, Ray posted a 7–1 win-loss record and a 0.50 earned run average (ERA), striking out 95 batters while walking only 13. He also pitched three no-hitters that year, including one perfect game against Centennial High School.
Robert Glenn Ray is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Toronto Blue Jays. Ray was an MLB All-Star in 2017 and won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021, when he led the league in earned run average and strikeouts.
On August 31, 2020, the Diamondbacks traded Ray along with cash considerations to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Travis Bergen. On September 1, 2020, he made his Blue Jays debut.
With the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays, Ray appeared in 5 games, compiling a 1–1 record with 4.79 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched. He re-signed with the Blue Jays for the 2021 season, signing a 1 year, $8 million contract. On July 11, 2021, Ray took a no-hitter into the 7th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays when a one-out double by Yandy Díaz broke it up.
Where Did Robbie Ray Go?
On November 30, 2021, the Seattle Mariners signed Ray to a five-year contract worth $115 million, with an opt-out after three years and a no-trade clause.