CHICAGO — Corey Ray knows he carries a big responsibility every time he goes to the plate or hits the field.
The former Simeon Career Academy and University of Louisville star, who was picked fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, wants to make the majors, but perhaps just importantly prove that his native South Side is far more than shootings, violence and poverty.
"It's very important that I succeed," the Washington Heights native told DNAinfo on Monday. "There is so much negativity coming from the South Side. When I tell people where I'm from, they give you that look that it's dangerous, and it is dangerous.
"But I want to show that it doesn't matter where you come from, you can do whatever it is that you want to do. I want to just shed a little light on the South Side of Chicago, and positivity is really big. I love my city."
The left-handed outfielder is hitting .221 for the Brevard County Manatees, an Advanced Class A team in the Florida State League. Ray, who turns 22 on Sept. 22, hit his first professional home run on Aug. 4, and he also has six doubles and four stolen bases.
Ray, who honed his skills as a teen in the White Sox's Amateur City Elite program, said he's enjoying his first year of pro ball. He's been given no timetable to advance within the Brewers' farm system, but two of his former coaches in Chicago, Kevin Coe and Lou Collier, expect Ray to reach the majors.
"Even though he's had some success he still understands he has a long way to go and a lot to learn," said Coe, the head of the ACE program. "We are extremely proud of him and can't wait until he gets to the big leagues."
Collier, a Chicago native who played seven seasons in the major leagues, said Ray is "a perfect example of how an inner city kid can overcome the many obstacles that stand in the way of their dreams."
"I'm very proud of the young man that he has become and all of his accomplishments, but I'm even more proud that he knows that he has a responsibility to be an role model to the next generation to follow in his footsteps," Collier said.
Ray takes that responsibility seriously, all while trying to get hits against some of the game's top young talent.
"I'm coming up with a [batting] approach that works at this level and will hopefully work at the next levels," he said. "Here, pitchers know how to use both sides of the plate consistently, and they know how to control the breaking ball."
First-round pick Corey Ray (@FutureIs_Bright) takes his first swings in Milwaukee under hitting coach Darnell Coles. pic.twitter.com/nrn6YDH5Yc
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 25, 2016
Ray said he lives, breathes and eats baseball, spending his day either at the park, working out or sleeping. He left Louisville a year early but promised his coaches there he'd one day return to get his degree. He reportedly got a signing bonus of around $4.1 million to become a professional.
In addition to boosting morale on the South Side, Ray has another main objective.
"When people look at me, I want them to see that hard work can get you wherever you need to go," he said.
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