THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508100252
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 59 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
DATELINE: SARASOTA, FLA. LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
After an arm injury in college sent his stock plunging, pitcher Chris Bray is determined to put a disappointing two years behind him.
Bray, who formerly pitched for Currituck County High School and Mt. Olive College, was drafted in the 30th round this spring by the Baltimore Orioles. After starting the season in relief for the Sarasota Orioles in the Gulf Coast League, Bray has broken the starting rotation. But after a serious injury to his pitching arm in his sophomore year, Bray wasn't sure where he was going.
With three weeks left in the season, Bray felt an agonizing pop in his arm while pitching against High Point College. It was an injury to his collateral ligament.
``The pain was excruciating,'' Bray said from his hotel in room in Sarasota. ``I couldn't throw the ball more than 20 feet. A week earlier I had pitched against the Kinston Indians in an exhibition game. It was one of my better games but I was squeezing the ball too tight. It put a strain on my arm.''
It was a tough injury to take. He had been contacted by 20 different major league teams who were interested in his 90-plus mph fastball.
He rehabilitated the arm by using dumbbell weights and running. Bray felt like he was throwing the ball well, but pitched just 16 innings his junior year. Not exactly what the scouts were looking for.
When he arrived in Sarasota in June, he was sent straight to the bullpen as a set-up man. After a successful stint in the pen, Bray was recently promoted to the starting rotation. The Orioles lost 1-0 to the Port Charlotte Rangers in his first start, but Bray pitched well. He went five innings, gave up no earned runs, and struck out six batters.
``I'm throwing the ball hard again,'' he said. ``I'm at 91 (mph). The velocity is coming back. My slider is nasty and I've developed a changeup.''
With the confidence that his arm has healed, Bray hopes to be promoted to A ball next year. After returning to Mt. Olive College this fall, he could be playing as close as Hagerstown, Md., home of Baltimore's Carolina League team next spring. by CNB