The Washington Nationals are continuing their organizational makeover, and the latest addition to the coaching staff is a name that might ring a bell for prospect watchers. Corey Ray, once a top-five MLB draft pick, is set to join the Nationals as their new first base coach. He replaces Gerardo Parra in the role, bringing a fresh face and a unique player-to-coach journey to a team in the midst of a full-scale rebuild.
Ray, 31, is a former standout who was selected fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 MLB Draft. At the time, he was considered one of the most electrifying talents in the draft class-blending power, speed, and athleticism in a way that had scouts dreaming big. But like many highly touted prospects, Ray’s road to the majors wasn’t a straight line.
His raw tools were never in question, but pitch recognition proved to be a hurdle-particularly when it came to breaking balls. As he climbed the minor league ranks and faced sharper pitching, the swing-and-miss issues became more pronounced.
In his first stint at Triple-A in 2019, Ray struck out in nearly 39% of his plate appearances. Though he would make strides in cutting that number down in the following seasons, he still struggled to consistently put the ball in play.
Even so, the Brewers weren’t ready to give up on his upside. Ahead of the 2019 Rule 5 Draft, they added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from being poached by another club.
He remained on the roster for a while but saw only a brief taste of the big leagues-just one game, in fact. That came on April 24, 2021, when he went 0-for-2 with a walk, a strikeout, and a run scored.
A little over a year later, in June 2022, he was placed on waivers and went unclaimed. After becoming a free agent at the end of that season, Ray didn’t sign with another team as a player.
Instead, he pivoted to coaching. In spring 2023, the Cubs brought him on as a bench coach for their Single-A Myrtle Beach affiliate. By the following year, he was managing the organization’s Arizona Complex League team and also serving as their baserunning coordinator-a role that speaks to his on-field instincts and understanding of the finer points of the game.
Now, Ray steps into a major league coaching role with a Nationals team that’s clearly embracing change. The organization has been in the midst of a rebuild that, so far, hasn’t produced the kind of progress fans were hoping for.
That’s led to sweeping changes throughout the front office and coaching staff. President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were both dismissed during the season.
In September, Paul Toboni took over as the new head of baseball operations.
The coaching staff has undergone a similar reset. Interim manager Miguel Cairo was not retained, and several coaches-including pitching coach Jim Hickey, hitting coach Darnell Coles, and third base coach Ricky Gutierrez-were told they’d only return if the incoming manager wanted them on staff. That new manager, Blake Butera, was hired shortly after, and he’s been helping build a staff that reflects the Nationals’ new direction.
So far, the hires suggest a clear trend: youth, energy, and a willingness to think differently. Butera is just 33.
Toboni is 35. Pitching coach Simon Mathews is only 30.
And now Ray, at 31, joins the fold. While age alone doesn’t guarantee innovation, it’s clear the Nationals are leaning into a more modern approach-one that values recent playing experience, player development acumen, and a fresh perspective on how to connect with today’s athletes.
Ray’s path from top prospect to big league coach is a compelling one. He’s seen the game from both sides-chasing the dream as a player, and now helping others reach theirs as a coach. For a Nationals team trying to redefine its identity from the ground up, that kind of insight could prove invaluable.