Celebrating the Youth Baseball Academy Class of 2024 Graduates

On Saturday, June 8,  the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy celebrated the graduation of its eighth-grade Scholar Athletes as they begin the exciting transition to high school. Academy Player Ambassador and Nationals pitcher Josiah Gray attended as the keynote speaker for the class.

“Kids look up to Major Leaguers — maybe because they want to be one, or simply because they understand the time, dedication and everything that goes into achieving your dreams,” Gray said from the podium inside the Academy’s training room. “So I challenge all of you to achieve your dreams, work hard every day because one day you could become a Major Leaguer, or a Major Leaguer in whatever profession you choose.”

Later that afternoon, the Class of 2024 was honored during a pregame celebration on the field where fellow 2024 graduate Josiah Gray was surprised with a special ceremony of his own. After 9 years, Gray graduated Summa Cum Laude from Le Moyne College this year with a degree in Business and Economics but was unable to attend his commencement ceremony last month.

The Dean of the Madden College of Business & Economics at LeMoyne College joined Gray’s girlfriend, mother, and brothers in a surprise presentation of his diploma and stoles followed by a congratulatory video on the scoreboard featuring messages from MLB Commissioner and Le Moyne alumnus Rob Manfred, Gray’s family, friends, former professors, and MLB Breakthrough Series participants, including Academy Scholar Athlete Mike Cureton. The ceremony concluded with Gray and the Academy graduates tossing their caps together in celebration.