Biography
Gordon Joseph Graceffo (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.
Amateur career
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. After the season, he briefly played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.
Professional career
Graceffo 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. He opened the 2022 season with the Peoria Chiefs of the High-A Midwest League. 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. He was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for both April and May. Over 18 starts with Springfield, Graceffo posted a 7–4 record with a 3.94 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 93+2⁄3 innings. For the 2023 season, Graceffo was assigned to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A International League. He missed time during the season due to shoulder inflammation. Over 21 games (18 starts), Graceffo went 4–3 with a 4.92 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 86 innings.
Graceffo returned to Memphis to open the 2024 season. In 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. Graceffo made his major league debut the next day on June 29, 2024, pitching 4+1⁄3 innings in relief against the Cincinnati Reds. He made 2 appearances (1 start) during his rookie campaign, posting an 0-1 record and 4.70 ERA with 6 strikeouts across 7+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Graceffo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2025 season.