OAKLAND -- Sonny Gray and Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson met a few paces behind home plate Wednesday morning at the Coliseum, and after a quick handshake and a hug, launched into an animated conversation, with Gray often gesturing to his pitching mechanics and Johnson nodding knowingly.
It's a familiar scene for both. Johnson was Gray's pitching coach for from 2009 to 2011 at Vanderbilt and took part in recruiting the righty to school, snatching him not only from other top-level baseball schools, but also Division I football schools interested in Gray playing quarterback.
Johnson said Vanderbilt was lucky to hang onto Gray.