J.R. Graham
| IP | 65 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.123 |
| WHIP | 1.508 |
| BB/9 | 3.046 |
| SO/9 | 7.615 |
- Full name Johnathan Ryan Graham
- Born 01/14/1990 in Livermore, CA
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Santa Clara
- Debut 04/06/2015
-
Drafted in the 4th round (146th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2011 (signed for $174,600).
View Draft Report
Graham has always been a fighter. He was born three months premature and weighed 2 pounds, and as an infant he stopped breathing in his father's arms before reviving. The Athletics took him in the 46th round in 2008 out of Livermore (Calif.) High, but he headed to Santa Clara as a two-way player. He has turned his focus to pitching now and is getting second-round buzz, thanks to a fastball that sits in the mid- to upper 90s. Graham isn't physically imposing, standing 6 feet and 175 pounds. He is blessed with a lot of fast-twitch muscle and gives a lot of credit for his arm strength to his father, who helped develop his workout program. The program utilizes plyometrics and medicine balls to improve core strength and explosiveness. Despite his big arm strength, Graham draws skepticism from some scouts. He's a bulldog on the mound, but he doesn't get a lot of angle on his fastball and his slider has been inconsistent. He'll also need to work on his changeup.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
A Braves fourth-rounder in 2011, Graham made an immediate impact when he led the Rookie-level Appalachian League in ERA. Then a strained shoulder limited him to eight outings in 2013 and impinged on his effectiveness at Double-A Mississippi in 2014. Intrigued by arm strength Graham showed in the past, the Twins selected him in the major leauge phase of the Rule 5 draft in December. The righthander did not have surgery on his shoulder, but the ailment required an extended recovery period. The Braves moved Graham to the bullpen at Mississippi in early August. He throws a four-seam fastball in the mid- 90s and a heavy two-seam fastball in the low 90s that generates lots of groundballs. Graham also mixes a tight low- to mid-80s slider that features excellent deception by mirroring his fastball. His changeup is at least average at times and keeps hitters from sitting on his heat. Though he faces serious durability concerns, he could excel as a setup man. Graham must spend 90 days on the Twins' active roster in 2015 in order to shed his Rule 5 restriction, but if he's healthy he should be able to do just that. -
A two-way player in college, Graham had emerged as a fast-track pitcher as a pro before a strained shoulder suffered in May limited him to eight games with Double-A Mississippi in 2013. Since focusing on pitching full-time, he has led the Appalachian League with a 1.72 ERA in 2011 and posted a combined 12-2, 2.80 season in 2012 between high Class A Lynchburg and Mississippi. Graham's success stems from his ability to work down in the zone and force batters to hit groundballs. His four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s and has been clocked as high as 97 mph, while his two-seamer is a heavy pitch with great sinking action. He employs the same motion to throw his 82-85 mph slider, thereby keeping hitters off-balance. His changeup is also an effective offering, giving him four above-average pitches. Graham repeats his clean delivery well and has the best command in the organization. Graham's shoulder injury, which kept him from throwing during instructional league, and his smaller frame raise questions about his durability. Had he not been sidetracked in 2013, then he probably would have ranked as the system's top prospect. If healthy, Graham should return to Mississippi to open the 2014 season to see if he can get back on track as a future rotation piece. -
A two-way player early in his career at Santa Clara, Graham didn't make his first college start until his draft year in 2011. He has thrived as a full-time starter in pro ball, leading the Appalachian League with a 1.72 ERA in his debut, then going 12-2, 2.80 while reaching Double-A Mississippi in his first full season. A fierce competitor who attacks hitters, Graham succeeds by generating a plethora of groundouts. His four-seam fastball has good movement while residing at 93-97 mph, but his best offering is a low-90s two-seamer with heavy sink. He does an impressive job of keeping hitters off balance with his sharp 82-85 mph slider and a changeup that has made steady progress. Graham is a quick-twitch athlete who repeats his delivery well, giving him the best command in the system. He's not big for a starter, yet he made 26 starts and worked 148 innings without missing a turn in 2012. The Braves believe Graham could fill one of several roles in the major leagues, depending on the team's needs. He'll continue to start in 2013 and has a ceiling of a No. 3 starter. He could open the year in Triple-A, and making his major league debut later in the season isn't out of the question. -
Graham made the most of his three-year stint at Santa Clara, going from being an Angels 46th-round pick out of high school to a Braves fourth-rounder in June. Initially a two-way player for the Broncos, he focused on pitching in the second half of his college career. He made his first college start midway through his final season, then moved seamlessly into that role in pro ball after signing for $174,600. He led the Appalachian League with a 1.72 ERA, ranked second with a 1.13 WHIP and didn't allow a homer in 58 inings. A bulldog on the mound who overcame being born three months premature as a two-pound baby, Graham doesn't have classic size for a righthander and concerns some scouts with the limited downward angle on his pitches. At the same time, his strong core and quick-twitch athleticism help generate a hard, moving fastball. He sits at 92-95 mph as a starter, working at 95-96 and topping out at 98 as a reliever. He overpowered Rookie-level hitters, getting them to chase his four-seam heat up in the zone. Graham throws a solid slider with good lateral movement at 82-85 mph. He needs more depth on his below-average changeup, which is too firm and unlikely to fool many hitters at higher levels. After putting together an impressive pro debut. Graham will open the 2012 season in Rome's rotation in order to get him some innings. The bullpen is likely his long-term destination, and he'll have closer stuff if he can improve his slider.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
The Braves may have gotten a steal when they drafted Graham in the fourth round a year ago. After breezing through the CL and finishing his first full pro season in Double-A, he owns a 17-4, 2.49 record in pro ball. One scout who saw him at Lynchburg compared him Kris Medlen. Graham is a bulldog who attacks hitters and induces groundballs. His 4.2 groundout/airout ratio would have led the league if he had enough innings to qualify. He throws a pair of fastballs, a 93-97 mph four-seamer and a low-90s sinker, and backs them up with a sharp slider and an in-progress changeup. -
An Angels 46th-round pick out of high school, Graham improved his draft stock by 42 rounds in his three years at Santa Clara. A former two-way player, he focused on pitching and piqued the interest of scouts with his arm strength and bulldog demeanor. In his pro debut, he captured the Appy League ERA title at 1.72, finished runner-up with a 1.13 WHIP and didn't allow a homer in 58 innings. Listed at 6 feet, Graham may be a hair shorter than that. His fastball may lack downward angle but it sure doesn't lack velocity, sitting at 92-95 mph and touching 97. He blew the ball past Appy Leagues up in the zone, and his four-seamer appears to rise because it stays on the same plane from the time it leaves his hand to the time it crosses the plate. Graham throws strikes with his two secondary pitches. His solid-average slider features good lateral break at 82-85 mph, while his changeup is too firm at this stage.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Control in the Atlanta Braves in 2014
Scouting Reports
-
Background: A two-way player early in his career at Santa Clara, Graham didn't make his first college start until his draft year in 2011. He has thrived as a full-time starter in pro ball, leading the Appalachian League with a 1.72 ERA in his debut, then going 12-2, 2.80 while reaching Double-A Mississippi in his first full season. Scouting Report: A fierce competitor who attacks hitters, Graham succeeds by generating a plethora of groundouts. His four-seam fastball has good movement while residing at 93-97 mph, but his best offering is a low-90s two-seamer with heavy sink. He does an impressive job of keeping hitters off balance with his sharp 82-85 mph slider and a changeup that has made steady progress. Graham is a quick-twitch athlete who repeats his delivery well, giving him the best command in the system. He's not big for a starter, yet he made 26 starts and worked 148 innings without missing a turn in 2012. The Future: The Braves believe Graham could fill one of several roles in the major leagues, depending on the team's needs. He'll continue to start in 2013 and has a ceiling of a No. 3 starter. He could open the year in Triple-A, and making his major league debut later in the season isn't out of the question.
