Kendall Graveman Bio
Kendall Chase Graveman is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Over the course of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Graveman has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks. After spending his early major league years as a starting pitcher, he transitioned to a relief role in 2020 following a medical diagnosis of a benign bone tumor in his cervical spine. He attended Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs before being drafted by the Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft.
Early Life and Background
Kendall Chase Graveman was born on December 21, 1990. He attended Benjamin Russell High School, where he developed into one of the top pitching prospects in his region. In his senior year, he posted a 6–3 win–loss record with a 1.19 earned run average (ERA) and 90 strikeouts over 63 innings pitched, numbers that drew the attention of several major league clubs.
After high school, Graveman enrolled at Mississippi State University and joined the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball program. His freshman year in 2010 was used primarily as a reliever, and he finished the season with a 2–4 record and a 7.02 ERA. As he grew more comfortable with the program, his results steadily improved and he became a reliable starter for the Bulldogs over the next several seasons. Graveman also spent time playing collegiate summer baseball, suiting up for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2011 and the Wareham Gatemen in 2012.
In 2012, the Miami Marlins drafted Graveman in the 36th round of the MLB draft, but he did not sign with the team, choosing to return to Mississippi State for his senior season. In his final year with the Bulldogs, he made 16 starts, including 10 against Southeastern Conference opponents, and posted a 4–4 record with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts, setting the stage for his selection a year later.
Path to Major League Baseball
Graveman entered the professional ranks when the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the eighth round, with the 235th overall pick, of the 2013 MLB draft. He signed for a $5,000 bonus and was assigned to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, where he posted a 1–3 record and a 4.31 ERA over 39 and 2/3 innings in his first professional season.
He opened the 2014 season with Lansing and quickly earned a promotion to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays after going 2–0 with a 0.34 ERA in four starts, including a near no-hitter against the Beloit Snappers. At Dunedin he compiled an 8–4 record in 16 starts with a 2.23 ERA and 64 strikeouts, then moved to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and finally to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He finished 2014 with a 14–6 record and a 1.83 ERA across 167 and 1/3 innings, and was named to Baseball America’s First Team All-Stars for the year. On September 1, 2014, the Blue Jays called him up to the majors as part of the September roster expansion, and he made his MLB debut on September 5 against the Boston Red Sox.
Kendall Graveman Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Graveman appeared in five games for the Blue Jays in 2014, posting a 3.86 ERA with four strikeouts, no walks, and a 0.86 WHIP in just four and 2/3 innings pitched. That brief taste of the majors was followed by a major trade on November 28, 2014, when he was sent to the Oakland Athletics along with Brett Lawrie, Sean Nolin, and Franklin Barreto in exchange for Josh Donaldson.
With Oakland in 2015, Graveman opened the year as the A’s fifth starter before being optioned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on April 26 with an 8.27 ERA. He returned to the majors on May 23 and finished his rookie season with a 6–9 record and a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts, establishing himself as a regular in the Oakland rotation.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2015–2018)
Graveman’s most defining stretch came with the Oakland Athletics. On April 20, 2016, he became the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium and struck out after three pitches, also batting in the clean-up spot, becoming the first pitcher to hit clean-up since Babe Ruth in 1920. He became the A’s only consistent starter that season, notching 10 wins across 31 starts.
In 2017, with Sonny Gray opening the year on the disabled list, Graveman was chosen to start on opening day for the A’s, his first career opening day assignment. He pitched six innings, struck out seven, and earned the win over the Los Angeles Angels. A right shoulder strain sent him to the 10-day disabled list on April 17, and after a return and a brief stint back on the shelf, he remained a key rotation piece. He was announced as the 2018 opening day starter on March 20, but a difficult 0–5 start and an 8.89 ERA led to a demotion to Triple-A on April 26, and he underwent Tommy John surgery on July 24, 2018. The Athletics non-tendered him on November 30, 2018, making him a free agent.
Seattle Mariners Era (2019–2021)
After signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs on December 23, 2018, Graveman 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 he made the Mariners Opening Day roster in 2020, debuting for Seattle on July 27, 2020.
On August 17, 2020, 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 as a relief pitcher, citing less stress on the tumor as the reason for his move to the bullpen. He finished 2020 with a 1–3 record and a 5.79 ERA in 11 games. He re-signed with Seattle for 2021 and excelled, going 4–0 with 10 saves, a 0.82 ERA, and 34 strikeouts in 33 innings across 30 appearances.
Houston Astros Era (2021, 2023)
On July 27, 2021, Graveman was traded, along with Rafael Montero, to the Houston Astros in exchange for Abraham Toro and Joe Smith. He allowed no runs in six of his first seven appearances for Houston and struck out 32.2 percent of the batters he faced. In 23 innings during the second half of 2021, he went 1–1 with a 3.13 ERA and 27 strikeouts. In Game 5 of the 2021 World Series, he became the final MLB pitcher to record an at-bat, due to the adoption of the designated hitter by the National League for 2022.
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, he posted a 2.42 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 22 and 1/3 innings of work.
Chicago White Sox Era (2022–2023)
On November 30, 2021, Graveman signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. In his first season in Chicago, he went 3–4 with a 3.18 ERA in 65 innings across 65 games, striking out 66 batters and converting six saves while serving as a key late-inning reliever.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2025)
On February 17, 2025, Graveman signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 19 appearances, he struggled to a 7.13 ERA with nine strikeouts across 17 and 2/3 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by Arizona on August 11 and released the following day after clearing waivers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Graveman is a sinkerballer pitcher who throws his sinker in the 91–96 miles per hour range, using the pitch to generate ground balls and weak contact. He complements the sinker with a cutter, a slider, and a changeup that is delivered from a modified two-seam circle changeup grip, giving him a four-pitch mix that has translated well from starting to relieving.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Graveman was the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium in 2016 and the first pitcher to hit clean-up since Babe Ruth in 1920. He started opening day for the Athletics in both 2017 and 2018, became the final MLB pitcher to record an at-bat in the 2021 World Series, and represented the United States at the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami.
Kendall Graveman Career Wins
Across his major league career, Kendall Chase Graveman has compiled a 38–43 win–loss record with a 4.03 ERA and 503 strikeouts through the 2025 season. His wins have been spread across stints as both a starter and a reliever, with his heaviest workload coming during his years in the Oakland Athletics rotation.
Oakland Athletics Highlights
During his time with the Athletics, Graveman recorded double-digit wins in 2016 with 10 victories across 31 starts and served as the club’s opening day starter in both 2017 and 2018. He became a fixture in the Oakland rotation before injuries and Tommy John surgery reshaped his role.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of Oakland, Graveman posted a 4–0 record with 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA for the Seattle Mariners in 2021, anchoring the back end of their bullpen. He also earned a win and posted a 3.13 ERA in limited action for the Houston Astros during the 2021 pennant run, and went 3–4 with six saves for the Chicago White Sox in 2022. Graveman represented the United States at the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, contributing to the national team effort.
Kendall Graveman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Information about Graveman’s parents and broader family background is not publicly documented in the verified sources reviewed for this profile.
Personal Life
Kendall Chase Graveman and his wife, Victoria, have three daughters. The family has been a steady presence throughout his stops with multiple major league organizations.
2025 Season Performance
Graveman entered 2025 on a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, looking to bounce back from right shoulder surgery that kept him out for most of 2024. The hope was that his sinker-heavy profile would play well in the National League West, where ground-ball pitchers often find success in the spacious ballparks.
The results, however, did not go according to plan. In 19 appearances for Arizona, Graveman struggled to a 7.13 ERA with nine strikeouts across 17 and 2/3 innings, well below his career norms. The Diamondbacks designated him for assignment on August 11 and released him the following day after he cleared waivers, ending his Arizona tenure.
As of the 2025 season, Graveman is once again a free agent, with the next chapter of his career still to be determined. His track record as a reliable reliever with Houston in 2021 and a successful Tommy John comeback already on file suggest that another major league opportunity remains a realistic possibility.
