Kendall Graveman

Kendall Graveman

Graveman pitching for Oakland in 2015
Oakland Athletics – No. 49
Pitcher
Born: (1990-12-21) December 21, 1990
Alexander City, Alabama
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 2014, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through April 7, 2016)
Win–loss record 6–10
Earned run average 4.01
Strikeouts 85
WHIP 1.37
Teams

Kendall Chase Graveman[1] (born December 21, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft and played parts of two seasons in minor league baseball before being called up by the Blue Jays in September 2014.

High school & college

Graveman attended Benjamin Russell High School, where he posted a 6–3 record with a 1.19 earned run average and 90 strikeouts over 63 innings in his senior year.[1] In 2010, his first year at Mississippi State University, Graveman was used primarily as a reliever and finished the season with a 2–4 record and a 7.02 ERA.[1] In 2011, he made 14 appearances (9 starts), compiling a 5–0 record and a 3.65 ERA.[1] Graveman was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 36th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign with the team.[2] In his senior year at MSU, he made 16 starts, including all of the team's 10 starts against teams in the SEC, and posted a 4–4 record with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts.[1]

Minor league career

Graveman was selected in the 8th round, 235th overall, by the Blue Jays in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He received a signing bonus of $5,000,[4] and was assigned to the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts. Graveman would pitch to a 1–3 record and a 4.31 earned run average over 392⁄3 innings in 2013.[2]

He began the 2014 season with Lansing, but was promoted to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays after making 4 starts for the Lugnuts and posting a 2–0 record with a 0.34 ERA, including a near no-hitter over the Beloit Snappers.[5][6] In Dunedin, he compiled an 8–4 record in 16 starts, with a 2.23 ERA and 64 strikeouts.[2] Graveman was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and made just 1 start, a 6-inning win over the Binghamton Mets, before being promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[7][8] In his Triple-A debut, he took the loss, pitching 6 innings in a 2–1 loss to the Norfolk Tides.[9] Graveman would allow only 1 earned run in his following 3 starts, bringing his ERA to 1.04 through 26 innings with Buffalo.[10] He finished the 2014 minor league season with a 14–6 record over 1671⁄3 innings, with an ERA of 1.83, 115 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.03. He also gave up only 2 home runs and issued 31 walks, for a BB/9 of 1.7.[2] On September 3, Graveman was named to Baseball America's First Team All-Stars for 2014.[4]

Major league career

Toronto Blue Jays

On September 1, 2014, Graveman was called up to the Blue Jays as a part of the September roster expansion.[11][12] He made his MLB debut on September 5, against the Boston Red Sox. Graveman made 5 total appearances for the Blue Jays in 2014, and posted a 3.86 ERA, 4 strikeouts, no walks, and a 0.86 WHIP in 42⁄3 innings pitched.[13]

Oakland Athletics

On November 28, 2014, Graveman was traded to the Oakland Athletics, along with Brett Lawrie, Sean Nolin, and Franklin Barreto, for Josh Donaldson.[14] After opening the season as the fifth starter, Graveman was optioned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on April 26, 2015 after going 1-2 with a 8.27 ERA in 16.1 innings.[15] Graveman was called back up to the A's on May 23.[16] He finished his rookie season with a 6–9 record and 4.05 ERA in 21 starts.[13]

On April 20, 2016, Graveman became the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium and struck out after 3 pitches.[17][18] Graveman batted in the clean-up spot, and became the first pitcher to bat clean-up since Babe Ruth in 1920.[19]

Scouting report

Graveman is a sinkerballer, throwing his sinker between 91 and 96 MPH. He also throws a cutter, a slider, and a change-up.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kendall Graveman – Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletic Site". hailstate.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Kendall Graveman Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ Dakers, Tom (June 7, 2013). "Blue Jays Pick Kendall Graveman RHP in the 8 Round, Pick 235". bluebirdbanter.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Eddy, Matt (September 3, 2014). "Minor League All-Star Team 2014". Baseball America. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ Heneghan, Kelsie (April 18, 2014). "Lugnuts' Graveman loses no-hitter in ninth". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  6. ↑ Franzoni, Kyle. "Interview: Getting to know Blue Jays prospect Kendall Graveman". jaysjournal.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  7. ↑ Stevens, Kevin (July 28, 2014). "BMets fall to New Hampshire, newcomer AA pitcher". pressconnects.com. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Graveman to start for Bisons Saturday". MiLB.com. August 1, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Graveman pitches well in Herd loss". buffalonews.com. August 2, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  10. ↑ DeLuca, Dave (August 17, 2014). "Walkoff homer sinks Herd, 3–2". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ Davidi, Shi (September 1, 2014). "Pompey, Norris among 9 called up by Blue Jays". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ Bonner, Michael (September 1, 2014). "Former Bulldog Graveman gets call to big leagues". clarionledger.com. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Kendall Graveman Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  14. ↑ Chisholm, Gregor (November 28, 2014). "Donaldson reeled in from A's for Lawrie, prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  15. ↑ Silva, Drew (April 26, 2015). "A's option fifth starter Kendall Graveman to AAA". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Athletics put Coco Crisp on 15-day DL". espn.com. Associated Press. May 23, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  17. ↑ https://twitter.com/AP_Sports/status/722997696529858560
  18. ↑ Baer, Bill. "Graveman becomes first pitcher to bat at new Yankees Stadium.". mlb.nbcsports.com/. NBC Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  19. ↑ DaSilva, Cameron (April 21, 2016). "A's pitcher becomes first starter to bat cleanup since Babe Ruth". foxsports.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  20. ↑ Lockard, Melissa (December 3, 2014). "OAKLAND A'S PROSPECT REPORT: KENDALL GRAVEMAN". athletics.scout.com. Retrieved April 27, 2015.

External links

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