Graham Ashcraft

Ashcraft grew up in Gurley, Alabama, and attended Huntsville High School. He was selected in the 12th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but opted not to sign with the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/sports/huntsville-panthers-graham-ashcraft-drafted-by-dodgers/525-453a031a-d5d0-4d4a-80d3-9e4fc1d75869|title=Huntsville Panthers Graham Ashcraft drafted by Dodgers|first=Hannah|last=Oliveto|website=rocketcitynow.com|date=June 11, 2016}}

Ashcraft enrolled at Mississippi State University and began his college baseball career with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. As a freshman he went 2–0 with a 5.63 ERA and 25 strikeouts in ten appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.djournal.com/sports/msus-ashcraft-on-the-mend/article_7d4124e9-8001-5bdb-86e3-0fb9fa97f2b2.html|title=MSU's Ashcraft on the mend|work=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|date=August 26, 2017}} Following the season Ashcraft transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to play for the UAB Blazers.{{cite web|url=https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/Ashcraft-Vansau--489195971.html|title=Ashcraft, Vansau to transfer from MSU baseball program|website=WTVA.com|first=Andy|last=Lee|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=May 20, 2022|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185439/https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/Ashcraft-Vansau--489195971.html|url-status=dead}} After sitting out one season due to NCAA transfer rules, Ashcraft went 2–5 with a 5.62 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 53 innings over 17 pitching appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/06/uab-pitcher-graham-ashcraft-selected-in-6th-round-of-mlb-draft.html|title=UAB pitcher Graham Ashcraft selected in 6th round of MLB draft|first=Creg|last=Stephenson|website=AL.com|date=June 4, 2019}}

The Cincinnati Reds selected Ashcraft in the sixth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft,{{cite web|url=https://whnt.com/sports/huntsvilles-graham-ashcraft-heading-to-the-mlb/|title=Huntsville's Graham Ashcraft heading to the MLB|date=June 6, 2019}} making Ashcraft the highest-selected player in the MLB draft from UAB.{{cite web |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/06/uab-pitcher-graham-ashcraft-selected-in-6th-round-of-mlb-draft.html |title=UAB pitcher Graham Ashcraft selected in 6th round of MLB draft|first=Creg|last=Stephenson|date=June 4, 2019|publisher=AL.com|accessdate=June 2, 2022}} After signing with Cincinnati, he was assigned to the Rookie-level Greeneville Reds.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/graham-ashcraft-develops-a-new-pitch/|title=Graham Ashcraft Develops A New Pitch|work=Baseball America|date=February 25, 2021}} Ashcraft did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancelation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was assigned to the High-A Dayton Dragons to begin 2021, where he went 4–1 with a 2.33 ERA and 55 strikeouts before being promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/graham-ashcraft-named-double-a-south-player-of-the-week|title=Graham Ashcraft Named Double-A South Player of the Week}} Ashcraft began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/05/18/graham-ashcraft-reds-taxi-squad-cincinnati-top-pitching-prospects-louisville-rhp-2019-mlb-draft/9827207002/|title=Graham Ashcraft, among top RHP prospects, added to Reds' Taxi Squad|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=May 18, 2022|access-date=May 20, 2022}}

Ashcraft was promoted to the Reds' major league roster on May 20, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-promoted-to-big-leagues/|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Promoted to big leagues|website=CBS Sports|publisher=RotoWire|date=May 20, 2022|access-date=May 20, 2022}} He made his MLB debut on May 22, tossing 4.1 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays and allowing two earned runs. On May 23, he was removed from the 40-man roster and returned to Triple-A Louisville.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Returned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-returns-to-minors/amp/|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On May 27, Ashcraft had his contract selected back to the active roster.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Contract selected again|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-contract-selected-again/amp/|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He finished the season with a 5–6 record and a 4.89 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 19 starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/graham-ashcraft-setting-goals-for-each-start-with-reds|title=Ashcraft checking off goals each start|first=Mark|last=Sheldon|website=MLB.com|date=March 7, 2023|access-date=March 20, 2023}}

In 2023, Ashcraft made 26 starts for Cincinnati, logging a 7–9 record and 4.76 ERA with 111 strikeouts in {{fraction|145|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Yields two runs in no-decision|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-yields-two-runs-in-no-decision/|access-date=September 17, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 28, 2023 |language=en}} On September 2, 2023, Ashcraft was placed on the injured list with a stress reaction in his right big toe.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Officially on injured list|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-officially-on-injured-list/|access-date=September 17, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 2, 2023 |language=en}} On September 16, it was announced that Ashcraft would undergo season–ending surgery to repair the toe.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Will undergo season-ending surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-will-undergo-season-ending-surgery/|access-date=September 17, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 17, 2023 |language=en}}

Ashcraft began the 2024 campaign as part of Cincinnati's rotation, compiling a 5–5 record and 5.24 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 15 starts. On July 10, he was optioned to the Triple–A Louisville Bats. However, the option was later voided. and Ashcraft was placed on the injured list with a right elbow strain.{{Cite web|title=Graham Ashcraft moves to the big league injured list with an elbow strain|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2024/07/10/graham-ashcraft-injury-update-reds-move-to-mlb-injured-list/74360216007/|access-date=July 30, 2024|website=cincinnati.com|language=en}} He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 29.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Moved to 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-graham-ashcraft-moved-to-60-day-il/|access-date=July 30, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=July 29, 2024 |language=en}}

Ashcraft is the son of Chuck Ashcraft and Michelle Daymond. He has two brothers.{{cite web |title=Graham Ashcraft - Baseball |url=https://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/graham-ashcraft/4397 |website=Mississippi State |access-date=October 28, 2024 |language=en}}

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{{baseballstats|mlb=668933|br=a/ashcrgr01|brm=ashcra000gra|espn=4084179|fangraphs=27552|retro=A/Pashcg001}}

• [https://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/graham-ashcraft/4397 Mississippi State Bulldogs bio]
• [https://uabsports.com/sports/baseball/roster/graham-ashcraft/6803 UAB Blazers bio]

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Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball players from Huntsville, Alabama

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Cincinnati Reds players

Category:UAB Blazers baseball players

Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball players

Category:Greeneville Reds players

Category:Dayton Dragons players

Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players

Category:Louisville Bats players