The Washington Nationals just made a quietly intriguing addition to their coaching staff, naming Corey Ray as their new first base coach. At 31 years old, Ray fits the mold of the Nats’ recent trend-young, energetic hires with fresh perspectives and upside. But what makes this move especially interesting isn’t just Ray’s age or résumé-it's the journey that brought him here.
If the name rings a bell, there’s a reason. Ray was once a top-tier prospect, taken fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers out of Louisville.
Back then, scouts saw him as a potential five-tool outfielder-speed, power, glove, arm, and hit tool all flashing at various points. But the bat never quite caught up to the hype.
Strikeouts became a persistent issue, with Ray punching out in over 30% of his minor league plate appearances. Despite the struggles, he did make it to the bigs-briefly.
One game, two at-bats, one walk. That was the extent of his MLB playing career.
Now, Ray is back in the big leagues-but this time in a role that might suit him even better.
Ray’s baseball IQ has always been a strong point. Even during his playing days, he was known as the kind of guy who might wind up in a dugout with a lineup card in hand.
That’s exactly how his post-playing career has unfolded. He jumped into coaching with the Cubs, managing in Rookie Ball before stepping into a player development role as their base running coordinator.
And here’s where it gets interesting for Washington. Under Ray’s guidance, the Cubs ranked third in MLB in base running runs last season, with a solid +8 mark.
Meanwhile, the Nationals sat at a flat zero-neutral, at least on paper. But if you watched them last year, that number probably feels generous.
Missed reads, poor jumps, and questionable decisions on the basepaths were all too common.
That’s where Ray’s expertise could make a real difference. First base coaches are often the quiet architects of a team’s running game.
Look no further than Antoan Richardson with the Mets, who helped turn Juan Soto-a player not exactly known for his speed-into a 38-steal threat last season. That kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident.
The Nationals have speed. What they haven’t had is consistency-or confidence-when it comes to using it.
Jacob Young is a prime example. He’s one of the fastest players on the roster, but finished last season with just 15 steals and 11 times caught.
That’s not a great ratio. Early in his career, Young was a nightmare for opposing catchers.
Lately, he’s looked hesitant, and the numbers reflect it.
CJ Abrams, another speedster, had his best year on the bases back in 2023. Since then, his base stealing has taken a step back. And there’s more untapped potential in guys like Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews-both of whom have the wheels to be impact runners, but haven’t yet put it all together.
The Nationals have the raw tools to be a much better base running team. What they’ve lacked is structure and execution.
Too often, they’ve either been overly aggressive or too cautious-caught in between decisions, second-guessing themselves after a few failed attempts. That’s where coaching matters.
That’s where Corey Ray can help.
This isn’t just about stealing more bases. It’s about winning the small battles that add up over a 162-game season.
When you don’t have a lineup stacked with MVP candidates, you’ve got to find your edges elsewhere. Smart, aggressive base running is one of those edges.
Corey Ray’s playing career didn’t go the way many expected. But that doesn’t mean his baseball story is over. In fact, it might just be getting started-this time, as a coach who helps the Nationals win on the margins.