Gordon Graceffo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Graceffo sat 90-93 mph in spring 2021, but his fastball steadily gained steam, peaking at 100 mph on the backfields at 2022 spring training. He dominated High-A competition out of camp, earning a promotion to Double-A. He broke camp with Triple-A Memphis in 2023 but hit the injured list following his April 28 start at Durham. Graceffo missed nearly two months with right shoulder inflammation, his first injury since high school. He returned on June 17, making 16 more appearances over the remainder of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Graceffo mixes four pitches, led by his four-seam fastball that sits 93-95 mph with average ride and armside run. His mid-80s slider with tight gyro shape is his primary offering against righthanded hitters. The slider is Graceffo’s best pitch and best at generating whiffs. The quality of his fastball/slider combination drives success against righthanded hitters. Against lefthanders, Graceffo was far less effective in 2023. Facing southpaws, he ups his fastball usage and splits his secondary usage between his upper-70s curveball and low-80s changeup. Neither pitch generates many swing-and-misses in the zone, leading to a substantial jump in contact rate when facing lefties. After showcasing plus command in 2022, Graceffo’s control across his arsenal backed up in 2023. Some of his strike-throwing issues could be the product of both his late April shoulder injury and the strictness of the automated ball-strike system used at Triple-A.
  
  The Future: Graceffo fits the mold of a back-end starter capable of providing average performance with the ability to handle a starter’s workload. His profile could take a substantial jump if he establishes a true go-to secondary against lefthanded hitters.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Graceffo had a strong junior year at Villanova in 2021, when he went 7-2 1.54 in 11 starts. He made three predraft starts for in the Cape Cod League and flashed increased velocity, which had been climbing throughout the spring. The Cardinals drafted Graceffo in the fifth round and signed him for an above-slot $500,000. He debuted with Low-A Palm Beach after signing and made 11 appearances out of the bullpen. In spring training 2022, Graceffo showed even more power in his pitch mix and hit 100 mph. He held his velocity throughout the season and earned a promotion to Double-A by late May after eight dominant starts with High-A Peoria.
  
  Scouting Report: A strong-bodied righthander with a prototypical pitcher's build, Graceffo lacks eye-popping athleticism but repeats his unusual mechanics. He steps back with his left foot to begin his windup as he sets square to the hitter. He has a longer arm action and high three-quarters slot with crossfire finish at release. Graceffo's operation creates deception that amplifies his four-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 99. While his fastball has above-average velocity, it lacks life and ride. It plays due to his combination of velocity and plus command. His best secondary is his 85-88 mph slider, which has tight, cement-mixer shape that plays off his fastball. His low-80s changeup with tumble and fade generates whiffs and chases from lefthanded hitters. Graceffo's fourth pitch is a 12-to-6 curveball with moderate depth. He shows an advanced understanding of sequencing and mixes all four of his pitches effectively. His command across his entire arsenal is plus.
  
  The Future: With power across his arsenal, a deep pitch mix and plus strike-throwing ability, Graceffo projects as a reliable No. 4 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 65
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Following a freshman season at Villanova split between the bullpen and rotation, Graceffo began working as a starter full-time as a sophomore in the shortened 2020 season and put up a 1.42 ERA in four starts. He sustained that level of excellence over the full 2021 season, posting a 7-2, 1.54 mark with 86 strikeouts and 13 walks in 82 innings. The Cardinals were happy to scoop Graceffo up in the fifth round and sign him to an over-slot $500,000 deal. Graceffo jumped straight to Low-A Palm Beach after signing and posted a 1.73 ERA in 11 appearances (one start).
  
  Scouting Report: Graceffo started the 2021 season sitting 87-91 mph and touching 93, but by the end of the year his velocity ticked up to sit at 94 mph and was up to 98 in pro ball, and at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds he has some projection left to continue adding velocity. He commands the pitch well, pounding both sides of the strike zone. His best secondary is an upper-70s changeup with fading life and sinking action that is at least average and flashes plus. He rounds out his arsenal with a slider that is an above-average offering and a curveball with two-plane break. He also has the feel and strike-throwing ability to start, and the Cardinals were impressed by the way he constantly got into pitcher’s counts.
  
  The Future: After having no trouble at Low-A Palm Beach, Graceffo could start the 2022 season at High-A Peoria. He projects as a back-end starter thanks to his pitch mix and strike-throwing ability.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #250 prospect in 2021 draft
  Graceffo doesn't throw as hard as other more prominent pitchers in the draft, but his velocity did tick up during the season and he appeals to clubs for his pitchability and performance. Graceffo posted a 1.54 ERA that led the Big East and tied for fifth in the country, striking out 86 with 13 walks in 82 innings. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Graceffo has the stuff and command to project as a starter. He's a prolific strike-thrower with his fastball to both sides of the plate and consistently lands his offspeed stuff in the zone, issuing just 1.4 BB/9. For most of the season, his fastball sat at 87-91 mph and hit 93. By his last few starts, though, Graceffo was operating at 89-93 mph and reached 94. He regularly mixes in two effective secondary pitches with his slider and changeup, with his changeup arguably more advanced. It's a 76-80 mph changeup with good sink, fade and a lot of separation from his fastball to grade out as an average pitch that flashes plus at times. His slider is another average pitch that at times is a tick better. As teams have become better at squeezing velocity gains out of pitchers, Graceffo has an appealing profile if a club believes it can add a little more gas to his fastball. If not, he has the touch and feel to potentially make it as a back-end starter.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Graceffo had a strong junior year at Villanova in 2021, when he went 7-2 1.54 in 11 starts. He made three predraft starts for in the Cape Cod League and flashed increased velocity, which had been climbing throughout the spring. The Cardinals drafted Graceffo in the fifth round and signed him for an above-slot $500,000. He debuted with Low-A Palm Beach after signing and made 11 appearances out of the bullpen. In spring training 2022, Graceffo showed even more power in his pitch mix and hit 100 mph. He held his velocity throughout the season and earned a promotion to Double-A by late May after eight dominant starts with High-A Peoria.
  
  Scouting Report: A strong-bodied righthander with a prototypical pitcher's build, Graceffo lacks eye-popping athleticism but repeats his unusual mechanics. He steps back with his left foot to begin his windup as he sets square to the hitter. He has a longer arm action and high three-quarters slot with crossfire finish at release. Graceffo's operation creates deception that amplifies his four-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 99. While his fastball has above-average velocity, it lacks life and ride. It plays due to his combination of velocity and plus command. His best secondary is his 85-88 mph slider, which has tight, cement-mixer shape that plays off his fastball. His low-80s changeup with tumble and fade generates whiffs and chases from lefthanded hitters. Graceffo's fourth pitch is a 12-to-6 curveball with moderate depth. He shows an advanced understanding of sequencing and mixes all four of his pitches effectively. His command across his entire arsenal is plus.
  
  The Future: With power across his arsenal, a deep pitch mix and plus strike-throwing ability, Graceffo projects as a reliable No. 4 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 65
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Graceffo had a strong junior year at Villanova in 2021, when he went 7-2 1.54 in 11 starts. He made three predraft starts for in the Cape Cod League and flashed increased velocity, which had been climbing throughout the spring. The Cardinals drafted Graceffo in the fifth round and signed him for an above-slot $500,000. He debuted with Low-A Palm Beach after signing and made 11 appearances out of the bullpen. In spring training 2022, Graceffo showed even more power in his pitch mix and hit 100 mph. He held his velocity throughout the season and earned a promotion to Double-A by late May after eight dominant starts with High-A Peoria.
  
  Scouting Report: A strong-bodied righthander with a prototypical pitcher's build, Graceffo lacks eye-popping athleticism but repeats his unusual mechanics. He steps back with his left foot to begin his windup as he sets square to the hitter. He has a longer arm action and high three-quarters slot with crossfire finish at release. Graceffo's operation creates deception that amplifies his four-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 99. While his fastball has above-average velocity, it lacks life and ride. It plays due to his combination of velocity and plus command. His best secondary is his 85-88 mph slider, which has tight, cement-mixer shape that plays off his fastball. His low-80s changeup with tumble and fade generates whiffs and chases from lefthanded hitters. Graceffo's fourth pitch is a 12-to-6 curveball with moderate depth. He shows an advanced understanding of sequencing and mixes all four of his pitches effectively. His command across his entire arsenal is plus.
  
  The Future: With power across his arsenal, a deep pitch mix and plus strike-throwing ability, Graceffo projects as a reliable No. 4 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 65
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record:: Following a freshman season at Villanova split between the bullpen and rotation, Graceffo began working as a starter full-time as a sophomore in the shortened 2020 season and put up a 1.42 ERA in four starts. He sustained that level of excellence over the full 2021 season, posting a 7-2, 1.54 mark with 86 strikeouts and 13 walks in 82 innings. The Cardinals were happy to scoop Graceffo up in the fifth round and sign him to an over-slot $500,000 deal. Graceffo jumped straight to Low-A Palm Beach after signing and posted a 1.73 ERA in 11 appearances (one start).
  
  Scouting Report: Graceffo started the 2021 season sitting 87-91 mph and touching 93, but by the end of the year his velocity ticked up to sit at 94 mph and was up to 98 in pro ball, and at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds he has some projection left to continue adding velocity. He commands the pitch well, pounding both sides of the strike zone. His best secondary is an upper-70s changeup with fading life and sinking action that is at least average and flashes plus. He rounds out his arsenal with a slider that is an above-average offering and a curveball with two-plane break. He also has the feel and strike-throwing ability to start, and the Cardinals were impressed by the way he constantly got into pitcher&#39s counts.
  
  The Future: After having no trouble at Low-A Palm Beach, Graceffo could start the 2022 season at High-A Peoria. He projects as a back-end starter thanks to his pitch mix and strike-throwing ability.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 55
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Following a freshman season at Villanova split between the bullpen and rotation, Graceffo began working as a starter full-time as a sophomore in the shortened 2020 season and put up a 1.42 ERA in four starts. He sustained that level of excellence over the full 2021 season, posting a 7-2, 1.54 mark with 86 strikeouts and 13 walks in 82 innings. The Cardinals were happy to scoop Graceffo up in the fifth round and sign him to an over-slot $500,000 deal. Graceffo jumped straight to Low-A Palm Beach after signing and posted a 1.73 ERA in 11 appearances (one start).
  
  Scouting Report: Graceffo started the 2021 season sitting 87-91 mph and touching 93, but by the end of the year his velocity ticked up to sit at 94 mph and was up to 98 in pro ball, and at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds he has some projection left to continue adding velocity. He commands the pitch well, pounding both sides of the strike zone. His best secondary is an upper-70s changeup with fading life and sinking action that is at least average and flashes plus. He rounds out his arsenal with a slider that is an above-average offering and a curveball with two-plane break. He also has the feel and strike-throwing ability to start, and the Cardinals were impressed by the way he constantly got into pitcher’s counts.
  
  The Future: After having no trouble at Low-A Palm Beach, Graceffo could start the 2022 season at High-A Peoria. He projects as a back-end starter thanks to his pitch mix and strike-throwing ability.