Corey Ray’s Baseball Journey Comes Full Circle: Former Brewers First-Rounder Named Nationals First-Base Coach
Corey Ray’s path through professional baseball didn’t follow the script many envisioned when he was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. But now, nearly a decade later, Ray is back in the big leagues - this time in a new role. The Washington Nationals have named the former outfielder as their next first-base coach, a move that leans heavily into Ray’s strength as a savvy, instinctive baserunner.
Ray made a name for himself at the University of Louisville, where he turned heads with a dynamic junior season. He hit .310 with 15 home runs, 44 stolen bases, and played sharp defense in the outfield - a skill set that screamed five-tool potential.
The Brewers, under newly appointed GM David Stearns at the time, saw enough to make him a top-five pick. And on paper, it was easy to see why: Ray had the speed, the pop, and the glove to develop into a well-rounded big leaguer.
But as is often the case in baseball, the road from promising prospect to MLB contributor isn’t always a straight line.
Injuries and inconsistency slowed Ray’s climb through the minors. Still, there were flashes - most notably in 2018 with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, where he looked every bit like the player Milwaukee had hoped for.
That season, Ray launched 27 home runs and swiped 37 bases in a league that’s notoriously tough on hitters. It was the breakout year the organization had been waiting for, and it seemed like the big leagues weren’t far off.
Unfortunately, momentum stalled. The 2019 season was riddled with injuries, and then came the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season - a critical development year lost.
Ray did make his MLB debut in 2021, appearing in a single game for the Brewers. He drew a walk, scored a run, and logged three plate appearances - a brief but meaningful taste of the show.
He spent 2022 back in the minors, but when that season wrapped, so did his playing career. Now, at 31, Ray is stepping into a new chapter - and it’s one that still keeps him close to the action.
Ray announced on social media that he’s joining the Nationals as their first-base coach, a role that leans into his strengths. Throughout his career, both in college and the minors, Ray was a high-IQ baserunner with instincts that can’t be taught. Even with his limited time on the field, he averaged nearly 30 stolen bases per 162 games in the minors - an impressive mark, especially given his injury history.
This move by the Nationals follows a growing trend in MLB: turning to former players with elite baserunning chops to fill key coaching roles. The Brewers, Ray’s former team, have done this with success - both Quintin Berry and Julio Borbón brought speed and baserunning savvy to their roles as first-base coaches. It’s no coincidence that Milwaukee’s base-stealing numbers have been among the league’s best during their tenures.
Ray had most recently been coaching in the Cubs’ minor league system, gaining experience and refining his approach from the other side of the lines. Now, he’ll bring that insight to a Nationals team that’s looking to build a new identity - one that could benefit from a more aggressive, intelligent approach on the basepaths.
For Ray, this is more than just a job; it’s a second chance to make an impact at the highest level. His playing career may not have unfolded the way he or the Brewers had hoped, but his baseball journey is far from over. Now, he gets to pass on what he’s learned - through the highs, the setbacks, and everything in between - to the next wave of big leaguers.
And if his coaching career is anything like his playing style, expect Corey Ray to bring energy, intelligence, and a relentless drive to help his players gain every edge - especially 90 feet at a time.