Kendall Graveman Bio
Kendall Chase Graveman, born December 21, 1990, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Over the course of his career, he has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks. A starter for most of his big-league tenure, Graveman transitioned to a relief role in 2020 after a medical diagnosis reshaped his career path.
Graveman played college baseball at Mississippi State University, where he developed into a draft prospect. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft, and after a strong minor league season in 2014, he made his major league debut that September.
Early Life and Background
Kendall Chase Graveman grew up in Alexander City, Alabama, where he attended Benjamin Russell High School. During his senior year, he posted a 6–3 win–loss record with a 1.19 earned run average (ERA) and 90 strikeouts across 63 innings pitched, establishing himself as one of the top prep arms in the region.
Following high school, Graveman enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he joined the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball program. In 2010, his freshman year, he was used primarily as a reliever and finished the season with a 2–4 record and a 7.02 ERA. He steadily developed over the next several seasons, refining his command and building the durability that would later define his professional career.
Graveman also gained valuable experience in the Cape Cod Baseball League, widely regarded as the premier collegiate summer league in the country. He played for the Cotuit Kettleers in 2011 and returned the following summer to play for the Wareham Gatemen, gaining exposure to high-level competition outside the college schedule.
Path to Professional Baseball
Graveman’s path to the professional ranks was gradual but steady. As a sophomore at Mississippi State in 2011, he made 14 appearances, including nine starts, and compiled a 5–0 record with a 3.65 ERA. The Miami Marlins selected him in the 36th round of the 2012 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the club, choosing instead to return to school for his senior year.
In his senior season with the Bulldogs, Graveman made 16 starts, including 10 against Southeastern Conference opponents, and posted a 4–4 record with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts. His combination of size, sinker movement, and competitiveness drew the attention of professional scouts, and the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the eighth round, with the 235th overall pick, of the 2013 MLB draft. He received a $5,000 signing bonus and was assigned to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts.
Kendall Graveman Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
After signing with the Blue Jays, Graveman spent the remainder of 2013 with Lansing, pitching to a 1–3 record and a 4.31 ERA over 39⅔ innings. He returned to Lansing to open 2014 and was promoted to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays after four strong starts, including a 2–0 record and a 0.34 ERA that featured a near no-hitter against the Beloit Snappers.
Graveman continued to climb the minor league ladder in 2014, reaching Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo. He finished the minor league season with a 14–6 record across 167⅓ innings, posting a 1.83 ERA, 115 strikeouts, and a 1.03 WHIP while allowing just two home runs. On September 3, 2014, he was named to Baseball America’s First Team All-Stars. The Blue Jays called him up on September 1, and he made his MLB debut on September 5 against the Boston Red Sox, making five appearances with a 3.86 ERA before the season ended.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2015–2018)
On November 28, 2014, Graveman was traded to the Oakland Athletics as part of the package that sent Josh Donaldson to Toronto. He opened 2015 as the A’s fifth starter but was optioned to Triple-A Nashville in late April after struggling to a 1–2 record and an 8.27 ERA. He was recalled in May and finished his rookie year with a 6–9 record and a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts.
By 2016, Graveman had become a fixture in Oakland’s rotation. On April 20, 2016, he became the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium and struck out on three pitches. He also batted in the cleanup spot that day, the first American League pitcher to hit fourth since Babe Ruth in 1920. Graveman was the A’s most consistent starter that season, notching 10 wins in 31 starts.
In 2017, Graveman was named Oakland’s Opening Day starter, pitching six innings, striking out seven, and earning the win against the Los Angeles Angels. He was later sidelined by a right shoulder strain but returned to execute a rare unassisted double play on April 27, the first by an Oakland pitcher since Blue Moon Odom in 1971. He opened 2018 as the A’s starter for a second straight year, but a difficult start led to a Triple-A demotion. On July 24, 2018, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and Oakland non-tendered him after the season, making him a free agent.
Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners (2019–2021)
Graveman signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs on December 23, 2018, but missed the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He signed with the Seattle Mariners in November 2019 and made the Opening Day roster in 2020, but a benign bone tumor was discovered in his cervical spine in August. After a stay on the injured list, he returned as a relief pitcher, a role he credited with less stress on the affected area. He finished 2020 with a 1–3 record and a 5.79 ERA in 11 games.
After a brief foray into free agency, Graveman re-signed with Seattle and thrived in 2021. In 30 appearances, he went 4–0 with 10 saves and recorded a 0.82 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 33 innings, cementing his value as a high-leverage reliever.
Houston Astros First Stint (2021)
On July 27, 2021, Graveman was traded to the Houston Astros along with Rafael Montero in exchange for Abraham Toro and Joe Smith. With Houston in the second half of the season, he went 1–1 with a 3.13 ERA and struck out 27 batters across 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 rule full-time.
Chicago White Sox (2022–2023)
On November 30, 2021, Graveman signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. In his first year in Chicago, he went 3–4 in 65 games with a 3.18 ERA across 65 innings, striking out 66 batters and recording six saves.
Houston Astros Second Stint (2023)
On July 28, 2023, Graveman was traded back to the Houston Astros in exchange for catcher Korey Lee. In 23 games for Houston, he posted a 2.42 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 22⅓ innings. The following offseason, he elected free agency.
Arizona Diamondbacks (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 17⅔ innings pitched. Arizona designated him for assignment on August 11, and he was released the following day after clearing waivers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Graveman is widely regarded as a sinkerballer, throwing his signature sinker in the 91–96 miles per hour range to generate ground balls and weak contact. He complements the sinker with a cutter, a slider, and a changeup gripped as a modified two-seam circle change, giving him a four-pitch mix that has allowed him to handle both starting and relief assignments effectively across his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the more memorable moments of Graveman’s career was his 2016 appearance at Yankee Stadium, where he became the first pitcher to bat in the new ballpark and the first to hit cleanup since Babe Ruth in 1920. He was also the final pitcher to record an at-bat in the World Series, stepping into the box in Game 5 of the 2021 Fall Classic, and he was named to Baseball America’s First Team All-Stars in 2014 following a dominant minor league campaign.
Kendall Graveman Career Wins
Although Graveman’s career statistics vary by role, he has produced meaningful results in both the rotation and the bullpen. His 2017 Opening Day start, his 10-win season with Oakland in 2016, and his standout 2021 relief campaign with Seattle stand out as defining stretches.
Oakland Athletics Highlights
Across his four seasons in Oakland, Graveman was a consistent presence in the starting rotation, highlighted by a 10-win season in 2016 and a successful 2017 Opening Day start against the Los Angeles Angels. His 2018 campaign was cut short by injury, but he remained a leader in the clubhouse during his final years with the A’s.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2021, Graveman went 4–0 with 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA for the Seattle Mariners, the finest stretch of his major league career. He also contributed to Houston’s run to the 2021 World Series and posted a 2.42 ERA in his return stint with the Astros in 2023.
Kendall Graveman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited public information available regarding Kendall Graveman’s parents or extended family background beyond his upbringing in Alexander City, Alabama.
Personal Life
Kendall Graveman and his wife, Victoria, have three daughters. The family has remained largely out of the public spotlight throughout his career, with Graveman focusing on his recovery from injuries and his work on the mound.
2025 Season Performance
Graveman’s 2025 season began with a one-year, $1.35 million contract signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in February. He was expected to provide veteran depth in the bullpen, but the campaign proved difficult, as he posted a 7.13 ERA with nine strikeouts across 17⅔ innings in 19 appearances.
His struggles led the Diamondbacks to designate him for assignment on August 11, 2025, and he was released the following day after clearing waivers. The short stint ended his brief tenure in Arizona and once again put him on the open market.
Looking ahead, Graveman remains a free agent with extensive major league experience as both a starter and a reliever. His track record in high-leverage situations, including a stellar 2021 season with the Seattle Mariners, suggests he could draw interest from clubs in need of bullpen reinforcement as the calendar turns.