Trey Gregory-Alford was watching it snow when he received a text just before the first spring game of his senior season at Coronado High in Colorado Springs.
“You sure the game isn’t canceled?” Angels area scout Jayson Durocher asked.
“We’re still playing,” Gregory-Alford replied.
Gregory-Alford pitched three innings through snowfall that day, striking out six of the 10 batters he faced. He sat in the mid 90s with his fastball.
The Angels did not miss that game, or the 10 other starts his senior year in 2024.
In the finale, Gregory-Alford pitched into the seventh inning of the Colorado 4A region semifinal without allowing a hit. Later, a run-producing double not only ended his no-hit bid, but also his prep career.
Two months later, the Angels drafted the Rocky Mountain-sized righthander in the 11th round and signed him to a post-10th-round record $1,957,500.
Making his pro debut in 2025, Gregory-Alford pitched a combined 2.86 ERA across the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Inland Empire.
“It’s one thing to be able to pitch at the premium velocities, but it’s also another thing to sustain that through outings,” Angels assistant GM Joey Prebynski said. “It’s a credit to Trey and all the work he put in . . . and the routine that he created for himself since he’s come into pro ball.”
Fifteen months removed from his prep semifinal loss, Gregory-Alford found redemption. He allowed one run over seven innings in the ACL semifinals to help propel the Angels to the league finals, which they won.
Promoted to the California League for six starts, Gregory-Alford allowed just five runs while striking out 20 in 25.1 innings. Inland Empire advanced the the league championship series, though they were swept by San Jose.
“In high school, we never won anything, so going for one championship was already cool enough,” Gregory-Alford said. “Almost getting two championships in a single season is something you aren’t going to forget.”