Kendall Graveman

Kendall Graveman Bio

Kendall Chase Graveman is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Born on December 21, 1990, Graveman has played in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Graveman transitioned from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher in 2020 following a medical diagnosis of a benign bone tumor in his cervical spine. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a reliable sinkerballer with the ability to induce ground balls at a high rate.

Early Life and Background

Graveman attended Benjamin Russell High School in Alabama, where he developed his pitching skills. During his senior year, he posted a 6-3 win-loss record with a 1.19 earned run average and 90 strikeouts over 63 innings pitched. His standout high school performance caught the attention of college scouts and set the foundation for his professional career.

After high school, Graveman enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In his freshman year of 2010, he was used primarily as a reliever, finishing with a 2-4 record and a 7.02 ERA. He showed significant improvement in 2011, making 14 appearances with nine starts and compiling a 5-0 record and a 3.65 ERA. The Miami Marlins selected Graveman in the 36th round of the 2012 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the team, choosing to return for his senior year.

In his final collegiate season, Graveman made 16 starts, including 10 against Southeastern Conference teams, posting a 4-4 record with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts. During the summers of 2011 and 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League, first with the Cotuit Kettleers and then with the Wareham Gatemen, further developing his skills against top college competition.

Path to Professional Baseball

Graveman entered the 2013 MLB draft with a strong collegiate resume and was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round with the 235th overall selection. He received a signing bonus of $5,000 and was assigned to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts to begin his professional career. The Blue Jays organization provided Graveman with a clear development pathway through their minor league system.

Kendall Graveman Career

Toronto Blue Jays (2014)

Graveman began the 2014 season with the Lansing Lugnuts and was promoted to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays after making four starts and posting a 2-0 record with a remarkable 0.34 ERA, including a near no-hitter over the Beloit Snappers. In Dunedin, he compiled an 8-4 record in 16 starts with a 2.23 ERA and 64 strikeouts. He was then promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and made just one start before reaching the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

Graveman finished the 2014 minor league season with an impressive 14-6 record over 167 and one-third innings with a 1.83 ERA, 115 strikeouts, and a 1.03 WHIP. He gave up only two home runs and issued 31 walks. On September 3, 2014, he was named to Baseball America’s First Team All-Stars for 2014. The Blue Jays called him up to the major leagues on September 1 as part of the roster expansion, and he made his MLB debut on September 5 against the Boston Red Sox. Graveman made five total appearances for the Blue Jays in 2014, posting a 3.86 ERA with four strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings pitched.

Oakland Athletics (2015-2018)

On November 28, 2014, Graveman was traded to the Oakland Athletics as part of a package that included Brett Lawrie, Sean Nolin, and Franklin Barreto in exchange for Josh Donaldson. After opening the 2015 season as the fifth starter, Graveman was optioned to Triple-A Nashville Sounds on April 26 after going 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA in 16 and one-third innings. He was called back up to the Athletics on May 23 and finished his rookie season with a 6-9 record and 4.05 ERA in 21 starts.

In 2016, Graveman became the A’s only consistent starter, notching 10 wins in 31 starts. On April 20, 2016, he became the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium and struck out after three pitches. He batted in the clean-up spot and became the first pitcher to bat clean-up since Babe Ruth in 1920. In 2017, with Sonny Gray on the disabled list, Graveman was chosen to start on Opening Day and pitched six innings, striking out seven and earning the win against the Los Angeles Angels. He was placed on the disabled list twice that season due to right shoulder issues.

Graveman was named the 2018 Opening Day starter for the second consecutive year. However, after starting the season 0-5 with an 8.89 ERA, he was demoted to Triple-A on April 26. Graveman underwent Tommy John surgery on July 24, 2018, and was non-tendered by the Athletics on November 30, 2018, becoming a free agent.

Seattle Mariners (2020-2021)

Graveman signed with the Chicago Cubs in December 2018 but missed the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. On November 26, 2019, he signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners and made their Opening Day roster in 2020. On July 27, 2020, he made his Mariners debut.

A significant career change occurred on August 17, 2020, when it was announced that Graveman had a benign bone tumor in his cervical spine. After a nearly month-long stay on the injured list, he returned to the active roster as a relief pitcher, citing less stress and pain on the tumor as the reason for his conversion from a starting role. Graveman finished the 2020 season with a 1-3 record and 5.79 ERA in 11 games including two starts.

The Mariners declined their $3.5 million team option on his contract for 2021, making him a free agent, but he re-signed the following day on a one-year, $1.25 million contract with incentives. In 2021 with Seattle, Graveman was 4-0 with 10 saves and recorded a 0.82 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 33 innings across 30 appearances.

Houston Astros (2021, 2023)

On July 27, 2021, Graveman was traded to the Houston Astros along with Rafael Montero in exchange for Abraham Toro and Joe Smith. He made an immediate impact, allowing no runs in six of his first seven appearances and striking out 32.2 percent of the batters he faced. However, on August 31, 2021, Graveman came into a scoreless game against the Mariners, loaded the bases, and saw former Astro Abraham Toro hit a grand slam that accounted for all the runs in the game.

With Houston in the second half of the 2021 season, Graveman was 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 23 innings. In Game 5 of the 2021 World Series, Graveman became the final MLB pitcher to record an at-bat before the National League adopted the designated hitter for the 2022 season. He became a free agent on November 3, 2021.

Graveman returned to the Astros on July 28, 2023, when he was traded back to Houston in exchange for catcher Korey Lee. In 23 games for the Astros, he posted a 2.42 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 22 and one-third innings of work.

Chicago White Sox (2022-2023)

On November 30, 2021, Graveman officially signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. Overall in his first year with the White Sox, he went 3-4 in 65 games with a 3.18 ERA in 65 innings while striking out 66 batters and recording six saves. He served as a key component of the White Sox bullpen during his tenure with the team.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2025)

On February 17, 2025, Graveman signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He appeared in 19 games for the Diamondbacks but struggled to a 7.13 ERA with nine strikeouts across 17 and two-thirds innings pitched. Arizona designated him for assignment on August 11, 2025, and he was released after clearing waivers the following day.

Driving Style and Strengths

Graveman is classified as a sinkerballer pitcher, throwing his sinker in the 91-96 miles per hour range. His primary offering generates a high rate of ground balls, which helps limit extra-base hits. In addition to his sinker, he throws a cutter, a slider, and a changeup from a modified two-seam circle changeup grip. His ability to work multiple innings as both a starter and reliever has made him a versatile asset throughout his career.

Notable Events and Milestones

Graveman’s career has included several notable milestones. His performance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic helped Team USA capture the championship in Miami. He became the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium in 2016 and the first pitcher to bat clean-up since Babe Ruth in 1920. He also holds the distinction of being the final MLB pitcher to record an at-bat in a World Series game before the National League adopted the designated hitter rule.

Kendall Graveman Career Wins

Throughout his MLB career spanning from 2014 to 2025, Graveman has accumulated a 38-43 win-loss record with a 4.03 earned run average and 503 strikeouts across his appearances with multiple teams.

MLB Highlights

Graveman reached the major leagues in 2014 with the Toronto Blue Jays and recorded his first MLB win during his tenure with the Oakland Athletics. His most successful season as a starter came in 2016 with Oakland, where he won 10 games. As a reliever, he recorded double-digit saves twice with Seattle in 2021 and Chicago in 2022. His career has been marked by resilience, including returns from Tommy John surgery and a neck tumor diagnosis that required him to change his role from starter to reliever.

Other Achievements

Graveman won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami. His minor league career was equally impressive, including a 2014 season where he went 14-6 with a 1.83 ERA across three minor league levels before earning his call-up to the majors.

Kendall Graveman Family

Family Background and Personal Life

Graveman is married to Victoria Graveman, and together they have three daughters. Despite the demands of a professional baseball career that has taken him to multiple cities across North America, Graveman has maintained a strong family foundation. He has credited his family’s support as a key factor in his ability to navigate the challenges of professional baseball, including his recovery from injuries and his transition between teams.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season proved challenging for Graveman after signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in February. He appeared in 19 games but struggled with a 7.13 ERA across 17 and two-thirds innings, his highest ERA since his transition to relief pitching. The Diamondbacks designated him for assignment in August and he was released after clearing waivers, becoming a free agent for the second time in his career.

The difficult season came after Graveman underwent right shoulder surgery in January 2024, which caused him to miss the entire 2024 campaign. The recovery from that surgery appeared to affect his performance upon his return to action in 2025. Despite the setback, Graveman’s career record demonstrates his ability to bounce back from adversity, having previously recovered from Tommy John surgery and adapted to his role change following his neck tumor diagnosis. His future in professional baseball remains uncertain as he continues to work toward full recovery and an opportunity with a new organization.