Tampa Bay Rays pitcher on Texas shooting at his former school: ‘I walked those halls’

News of the shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead in a fourth-grade Texas classroom has left the nation grief-stricken.

A moment of silence has been held before sporting events across the country, including the Rays’ 5-4 win over the Marlins on Wednesday.

The shooting was particularly poignant for Rays reliever Brooks Raley, because he attended Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, as he explained to the Tampa Bay Times.

“I walked those halls,” Raley told the Times’ Marc Topkin. “I can’t imagine what they experienced. …

“Just a tragedy. Obviously, growing up there, going to that school, it kind of hits home. Having young children myself, you just feel for those families. You pray for them. And your thoughts are with them.”

Raley, who turns 34 on Sunday, was drafted by the Cubs in 2009 after playing for Texas A&M, and made his big-league debut in 2012. He went to the Twins and Angels organizations before pitching in Korea for five seasons.

After returning to the majors and pitching for the Reds and Astros, Raley joined the Rays this season.

Raley told the Times he left Uvalde after being drafted but his parents, brother and niece live there.

“I’m feeling for that community,” Raley said. “It’s a small, close-knit community. It’s obviously a tough day today of mourning. … A lot of good people there, a lot of very good families and whatnot. So it’s a tough time.”