Frewsburg native Connor Gray is pictured wearing the Reno Aces “Los Corazones de Reno” uniforms during special Copa de la Diversion nights at Greater Nevada Field last season. Photo courtesy of Reno Aces | David Calvert

There aren’t many similarities between Scottsdale, Arizona and Frewsburg, New York.

But, for the time being, the latter will serve as the spring training home of native Connor Grey.

Grey, a pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization since being drafted as a college senior in the 20th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, returned home to Frewsburg a week ago after the league’s decision to cancel the remainder of spring training and delay the start of its season to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

“We had an idea that it was coming,” Grey said. “The (Diamondbacks) canceled practice on Friday and decided to wait for MLB to issue a statement. Then we had a meeting Friday afternoon about what was going to happen.”

After recommending that those not on the 40-man roster return home in the interim, the 2012 Frewsburg graduate said the team assisted its nearly 200 minor leaguers with the travel fare, offering to pay for driving costs or flight fares.

“I ended up leaving my car out there because I didn’t know how long this was going to be for and just flew back home,” he said. “I didn’t want to drive 30 hours home and then 30 back … if we had to come back out there.”

Baseball’s decision, however, still left many minor league players to question their financial future; during the spring, Grey said, he makes roughly $135 dollars a week at a time, plus per diem.

“We have a team hotel, so if you live at the hotel, you get your per diem for dinner, because they provide breakfast and lunch at the field, and then for incidental money per day,” he said. “If you’re not staying at the team hotel, you get a little bit more and they pay for a little bit more meals and for housing.”

With camp closed and no games, Grey faced an even larger issue upon returning home after the source of his offseason job — substitute teaching at Frewsburg — closed on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks alleviated concerns, announcing their intention to provide a one-time payment of up to $1,500 to minor leaguers who were expected to participate in spring training. Players will also continue to receive their weekly spring training per diems.

Major League Baseball took that commitment a step further on Thursday, announcing that all minor leaguers will receive compensation through the start of the minor league season on April 8. The league will also continue to communicate with its clubs to determine an industry-wide plan for minor league compensation beyond that date.

Grey said he found out in an email from Arizona farm director, Mike Bell.

“We’re grateful for that, that they’re helping us out,” he said. “Some teams haven’t done that yet or they’re waiting for Major League Baseball to step in and pay us, but we’re all pretty grateful that they’re doing that for us.”

The Diamondbacks’ decision to take the lead on this issue is indicative of the year-round treatment of its players, Grey added.

“From what I’ve heard and from what I’ve experienced, it’s a great organization to be in,” he said. “I’ve heard from guys who have been in multiple organizations that (the Diamondbacks) do a good job of treating us well. I’m very grateful I’m with them.”

So, in the meantime, the 2016 St. Bonaventure graduate will continue to train as much as possible.

“I’ve been trying to keep busy working out on my own and just throwing,” he said. “I’ve been trying to keep in shape and keep the arm in shape. It’s what I would be doing if I was in season.”

“It’s such a surprising thing,” he added of the cancellations due to the coronavirus. “We didn’t know this was going to happen or how bad it was going to be or how serious it was. We just have to take it day-by-day and let it happen and do what we have to do.”