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Gordon Graceffo

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Gordon Graceffo
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 44
Pitcher
Born: (2000-03-17) March 17, 2000 (age 26)
Wayne, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 2024, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2026 season)
Win–loss record11–4
Earned run average3.96
Strikeouts109
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Gordon Joseph Graceffo (/ɡrəˈsɛfoʊ/ grə-SEF-oh;[1] born March 17, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Early life

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Gordon Joseph Graceffo was born March 17, 2000, in Wayne, New Jersey,[2] as the oldest of Gerald and Melanie Graceffo's three children.[3] Raised in Cranford, New Jersey, he grew up a fan of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB).[4]

College career

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Graceffo attended Cranford High School in Cranford, New Jersey and played college baseball at Villanova University. As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, he started 11 games and went 7–2 with a 1.54 ERA, 86 strikeouts, and 13 walks over 82 innings.[5] After the season, he briefly played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves.[6][7]

Professional career

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Graceffo was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[8] He signed with the Cardinals and made his professional debut with the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Single-A Florida State League, going 1–0 with a 1.73 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 26 innings.[9] He opened the 2022 season with the Peoria Chiefs of the High-A Midwest League.[10] After eight starts in which he went 3–2 with a 0.99 ERA, 56 strikeouts, and four walks over 45+2⁄3 innings, he was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League.[11] He was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for both April and May.[12] Over 18 starts with Springfield, Graceffo posted a 7–4 record with a 3.94 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 93+2⁄3 innings.[13] For the 2023 season, Graceffo was assigned to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A International League.[14] He missed time during the season due to shoulder inflammation.[15] Over 21 games (18 starts), Graceffo went 4–3 with a 4.92 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 86 innings.[16]

Graceffo returned to Memphis to open the 2024 season.[17] In his first 14 starts, he compiled an 8–5 record and 3.84 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 75 innings. On June 28, 2024, Graceffo was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[18] Graceffo made his major league debut the next day on June 29, 2024, pitching 4+1⁄3 innings in relief against the Cincinnati Reds.[19] He made two appearances (one start) during his rookie campaign, posting an 0-1 record and 4.70 ERA with six strikeouts across 7+2⁄3 innings pitched. Graceffo played with Memphis when not with St. Louis, with whom he finished the season with a 10–8 record and a 4.85 ERA across 130 innings.

Graceffo was optioned to Memphis to begin the 2025 season.[20] He was recalled by St. Louis for the first time on April 6.[21] On April 30, Graceffo recorded his first career win after pitching five innings against the Cincinnati Reds, in which he allowed one run and struck out five while walking none.[22] Graceffo was recalled and optioned between St. Louis and Memphis multiple times during the season.[23][24] Across 26 relief appearances with St. Louis, he went 3-1 with a 6.28 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 43 innings.[25] He appeared in 24 games with Memphis, going 2-4 with a 3.77 ERA.[26]

The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Memphis to begin the 2026 season.[27] They promoted him on March 31 to take the place of Matt Pushard, who went on the injured list.[28] He was optioned to Memphis on July 3, before he was recalled by St. Louis three days later.[29] Graceffo made 62 appearances for the Cardinals and had an 8–2 record, a 2.67 ERA, and 63 strikeouts across 81 innings.

International career

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Graceffo was selected to play for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.[30]

References

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  1. ↑ "Cardinals select RHP Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis," MLB.com press release, Friday 28 June 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo – Baseball". Villanova Wildcats. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ DeGeorge, Matthew (May 13, 2025). "Villanova product Gordon Graceffo 'starting to ... figure it out' with Cardinals". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ Tantum, Alex. "Graceffo Starring in Minor Leagues". The Villanovan.
  6. ↑ "Bourne Braves Baseball » Graceffo throws gem to lead Bourne to ninth win of season, historic run continues".
  7. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Graceffo selected in 5th round by St. Louis Cardinals in the 2021 MLB Draft". July 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Back-field beat: Liberatore pitches two scoreless frames; Graceffo notches eight strikeouts". March 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Cardinals minors camp 'sensation' Graceffo raised his fastball velocity to 100 MPH, doesn't want to stop there". April 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Moves up to Double-A". May 24, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Alec Burleson & Gordon Graceffo named Cardinals top Minor Leaguers for the month of May". MLB.com.
  13. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo Stats, Fantasy & News".
  14. ↑ "Where the Cardinals' Top 30 prospects are starting season". MLB.com.
  15. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Could return in two weeks". June 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  17. ↑ Guerrero, Daniel (April 19, 2024). "Cardinals prospects Tink Hence, Gordon Graceffo deliver one-run starts: Minor League Report". STLtoday.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  18. ↑ Franco, Anthony (June 28, 2024). "Cardinals Promote Gordon Graceffo". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ Fagan, Ryan (June 29, 2024). "'We needed it': No. 8 prospect Graceffo saves 'pen in MLB debut". mlb.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Opening season at Triple-A". CBS Sports. March 13, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Serving as 27th man". CBS Sports. April 6, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Sent back to Triple-A". CBS Sports. May 1, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  23. ↑ Guerrero, Daniel (May 5, 2025). "Cardinals recall Gordon Graceffo from Class AAA, option Michael McGreevy". STLtoday.com. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Returns to big-league bullpen". CBS Sports. August 25, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Gordon Graceffo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Cardinals Notes: Pushard, Graceffo, Soriano". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  28. ↑ Schaeffer, Brenden (March 31, 2026). "Matt Pushard placed on injured list; Cardinals recall Gordon Graceffo". MLB.com. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Rejoins big-league bullpen". CBS Sports. July 6, 2026. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  30. ↑ Potter, P. J. (February 7, 2026). "These former N.J. HS baseball stars are headed to the 2026 World Baseball Classic". nj.com.
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