College Teammates Murf Gray, Jack Anker Dreamed of This Chance With Pirates
PITTSBURGH — Fresno State University may not have a reputation as a professional baseball pipeline the same way Vanderbilt and other SEC schools have been labeled over the years. Still, the school located in central California has produced some notable big-leaguers.
Two-time MVP and current New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was drafted out of Fresno State. 1991 MVP Terry Pendleton, starters Matt Garza and Doug Fister, and former Pirates reliever Justin Wilson are among the other notables to carve out solid big-league careers.
There are two more former Bulldogs looking to have their names added to the list of players to reach the big leagues, and they’ll get the chance to do it with the same organization.
The Pittsburgh Pirates took a pair of players from Fresno State in the 2025 draft – third baseman Murf Gray in the compensation round, and right-hander Jack Anker in the sixth round.
The two were at PNC Park on Monday afternoon to sign their professional contracts as they get ready to start their professional careers together.
“We talked about this for three years, like ‘Hey, what are the odds we get drafted by the same team?’ Never really thought it would happen, but for it to actually happen, it’s pretty special,” Gray said on joining the Pirates’ organization with his college teammate. “I can’t wait.”
The two were standouts during their junior seasons in 2025 and helped lead Fresno State to their second-straight Mountain West title.
Gray hit .324 with 18 home runs and 73 RBI, was named to the 2025 All-Mountain West First Team and the MVP of the conference championship.
Anker, meanwhile, went 9-5 with 109 strikeouts with only 12 walks in 96.1 innings. He joined Gray as part of the All-Mountain West First Team.
“We talked about it for three years straight,” said Anker. “He was my roommate for three years. You always think about things like this, and then, it happens. So just really happy.”
Both players signed with the Pirates for slightly below their respective slot values, Gray for $997,500 and Anker for $347,500.
It was a day neither will ever forget.
“I mean it’s amazing, signing day man, it’s a great day,” said Gray.
“Couldn’t be more excited to sign and it’s a beautiful day, beautiful ballpark,” added Anker.
The two players stepped onto the field to watch the Pirates take batting practice prior to their win against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
It will be a while before either is in position to step onto the field in a black and gold uniform as Pirates.
But as any draft pick does when joining their new organization, it becomes even easier to dream.
“It meant that all the work that I put in paid off, but at the same time, the job’s not finished,” Gray said on the start of his professional career. “There’s a big goal here. Keep grinding and make your way to the big leagues and then when you do that, go win man, go win some World Series, go win some rings, go win a lot of things.”
From sharing a college dorm to signing contracts with the Pirates on the same day, Gray and Anker get to start their dreams together.
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