Former Missouri State pitcher Jeff Gray became the 13th baseball Bear overall and third this season to be called up to the majors when the Oakland Athletics promoted him from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.

    Gray did not make an appearance over the weekend as the A’s series at Baltimore was cut short due to Tropical Storm Hanna. Gray joins another former Bear on Oakland’s roster in Brad Ziegler, who was called up on May 31 and is 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA and six saves after setting the major league record for scoreless innings to start a career at 39.0.

    Gray was 23-13 with a 4.28 ERA in four seasons as a Bear from 2001-04. He logged 279.2 innings in 59 appearances, made 39 starts and hurled seven complete games while striking out 203 batters. The Chesterfield, Mo., native ranks second in Missouri State history in innings pitched, third in wins and 10th in strikeouts.

    Gray was 2-7 with a 4.39 ERA and four saves in 54 relief appearances at Sacramento before the call-up. He was drafted by Oakland in the 32nd round of the 2004 draft.