Corey Ray

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Corey Donte Ray

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Biographical Information[edit]

Before the 2016 amateur draft, OF Corey Ray of the University of Louisville was one of the players under consideration by the Philadelphia Phillies with the number one overall pick. In the end, the Phillies selected high school OF Mickey Moniak and Corey fell to the 5th slot in the draft, where the Milwaukee Brewers selected him. It was his second time being drafted; out of high school, he had been taken in the 33rd round in the 2013 draft by the Seattle Mariners but had decided to go on to college.

After signing, Corey played 3 games for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League then was promoted to Advanced Class A with the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League, where he played 57 games. Between the two stops, he hit .239/.307/.370 with 26 runs and 17 RBIs. He was back at the same level at the start of 2017, but the Brewers having switched affiliates, he was now with the Carolina Mudcats of the Carolina League. Even though he continued to hit for a low average in the first half, he was selected to play for the United States team in the 2017 Futures Game at Marlins Park in Miami, FL.

He is a graduate of the Amateur City Elite (ACE) program that encourages young African Americans on Chicago, IL's south side to play baseball and keep them away from the dangers inherent to an underprivileged neighborhood. He was in the program from age 13 to 17 and was able to obtain a college scholarship as a result. The program is one that is supported by the Chicago White Sox's charities, allowing the participants to travel to tournaments and be exposed to scouts. Corey himself has given back, conducting batting clinics for youngsters in the program every off-season since turning pro. After the 2020 season, because the Coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to hold such clinics, Ray decided to give a batting helmet to each of the 150 kids enrolled in the program.

Ray turned to coaching, becoming bench coach of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2023.

Notable Achievements[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

  • Scott Merkin: "Ray on ACE: 'A chance to change your life'", mlb.com, December 23, 2020. [1]

Related Sites[edit]