Frostburg State Player Looks to Make the Leap to DI
After a breakout sophomore campaign for DII Frostburg State University, M:7 Athlete Jack Ray has entered the transfer portal as he readies himself to take the next step in his baseball journey at the NCAA Division I level. This past spring, Ray announced his presence with authority, rising from his freshman-year spot in the Bobcats’ bullpen to become their workhorse #2 starter, taking the hill in 11 games and elevating several key measurables from the previous year.
The 6’2” righty put on 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason which helped add more heat to his fastball, now topping out at 94 mph from 89 mph two years ago while increasing his floor from 80-86 mph to 88-89 mph. Adding a cutter to his arsenal and improving his slider also contributed to a dramatic drop in ERA from 3.48 to 2.84 along with a rise in strikeouts. Heading into this offseason, he has continued to sharpen his tools, constantly working on getting ahead in counts and further improving his command.
Ray was named 1st Team All-Conference for the Mountain East Conference, one of only four SPs to win the honor. Meanwhile, he continued to shine off the diamond, making the Dean’s List for his fourth straight semester.
“As I continue to hone my skills and finetune my pitching arsenal, I eagerly look forward to making an impact with a program at the next level,” said Ray. “I believe that my evolving skillset and unrelenting drive help make me a valuable asset to any DI team. My dedication in the classroom also shows that my studies are also very important to me.”
On the mound, Ray’s numbers from this season definitely don’t lie, as he recorded five or more strikeouts in six of eight games to start the season, including a three-game stretch in March where he allowed zero earned runs. On March 22, he led his Bobcats to the win against Charleston while racking up a season-high eight strikeouts in just six innings.
When it comes to his continual development, Ray credits working with Cody Whitten of Tread Athletics who had this to say about the rapidly-emerging pitcher: “It’s been awesome to be a part of Jack’s journey and see how far he’s come in his development in such a short period of time. In my opinion, he’s done more than enough to demonstrate he can be a legitimate starter at the next level with mid-90s velocity and an effective variety of breaking stuff. He’s definitely on track to become a key contributor for any roster that’s lucky enough to have him.”
Prior to Frostburg, Ray lettered in baseball, swimming, and golf at Beaver Area High School while earning High Honor Roll honors (2020-2023). As one of the top pitchers in the WPIAL 4A, he made the All-Section Team (2022-2023) and was selected as a Beaver County All-Star (2022-2023). He’s currently majoring in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance.
“From plus velocity to greater command, Jack’s remarkable progress just from his freshman to sophomore year is a testament to his talent as well as the ongoing hard work he puts in to elevate his game,” said Jim Christiana, CEO of M:7 Sports, a sports marketing and recruitment agency representing Ray and other student-athletes. “I still don’t think he’s reached his full potential, which means any program that brings Jack on board will not only be getting a great pitcher, but one with room to get even better!”