J. R. Graham

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = J.R. Graham

| image = J.R. Graham pitching for the Mississippi Braves (cropped).jpg

| caption = Graham with the Mississippi Braves

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|1|14}}

| birth_place = Livermore, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 6

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Minnesota Twins

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = May 4

| finalyear = 2016

| finalteam = Minnesota Twins

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 1-1

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 5.10

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 55

| teams =

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})

}}

Johnathan Ryan Graham (born January 14, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins from 2015 to 2016.

Amateur career

Graham was born in Livermore, California, on January 14, 1990, to Brian and Julie Graham.{{cite news|last1=Bollinger|first1=Rhett|title=Slimmed-down Graham feeling stronger, faster|url=http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/163756422/twins-jr-graham-sheds-pounds-feels-great|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206080915/http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/163756422/twins-jr-graham-sheds-pounds-feels-great|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 6, 2016|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=February 5, 2016}} His mother Julie is legally blind due to the effects of Best disease, and when Graham started Little League as a shortstop, he wore white cleats instead of black ones at his father's suggestion and to help him stand out on the diamond.{{cite news|last1=Flam|first1=Lisa|title=MLB pitcher wears stirrup socks so legally blind mom can see him on the field|url=http://www.today.com/parents/minnesota-twins-pitchers-socks-pay-tribute-his-mom-t16571|access-date=February 9, 2016|publisher=The Today Show|date=April 21, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Tyler|title=Style to see: Twins' Graham sports stirrups for vision-impaired mom|url=http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/style-to-see-minnesota-twins-j-r-graham-sports-stirrups-for-vision-impaired-mom-030615|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Fox Sports|date=March 6, 2015}} Graham dropped the different colored cleats and began wearing stirrups at age twelve or thirteen.{{cite news|last1=Bollinger|first1=Rhett|title=Graham's high stirrups help legally blind mom spot him|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/118515744/minnesota-twins-pitcher-jr-graham-wears-high-stirrups-to-help-mom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215185018/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/118515744/minnesota-twins-pitcher-jr-graham-wears-high-stirrups-to-help-mom|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2016|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=MLB.com}} He pitched and played shortstop while in high school.{{cite news|last1=Bonagura|first1=Kyle|title=2008 Baseball Player of the Year: J.R. Graham|url=http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/ci_9821184|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Tri-Valley Herald|date=July 9, 2008}}

Professional career

=Atlanta Braves=

Graham was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 46th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft out of Livermore High School in Livermore, California.{{cite news|last1=Reusse|first1=Patrick|title=Can't rule out Rule 5 draftee Graham from making Twins bullpen|url=http://www.startribune.com/reusse-can-t-rule-out-rule-5-draftee-graham-from-making-twins-bullpen/293303671/|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Star Tribune|date=February 22, 2015}} He did not sign, choosing instead to attend Santa Clara University, where he began pitching full-time.{{cite news|last1=Bollinger|first1=Rhett|title=Graham's love for mom is conspicuous|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-pitcher-jr-grahams-love-for-mom-is-conspicuous/c-122476348|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=MLB.com}} He was then drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110607&content_id=20162778&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610013208/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110607&content_id=20162778&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |title=With high schoolers out, Braves go college route |work=MLB.com |date=May 24, 2013 |access-date=January 13, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/hard-throwing-braves-prospect-graham-makes-big-imp/nWb6P/ |title=Hard-throwing Braves prospect Graham makes big impression |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date= |access-date=January 13, 2014}}

Graham pitched for the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Low–A Carolina League and the Mississippi Braves of the Double–A Southern League in 2012 and 2013. He went 12–2 with a 2.80 earned run average and 110 strikeouts in 148 innings pitched.{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/atlanta-braves/2013/jan/24/do-you-know-braves-prospect-jr-graham/ |title=Do you know Braves prospect J.R. Graham? |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=January 13, 2014}}{{cite web|author= David Lee |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/content/blog-post/david-lee/2013-01-24/braves-prospect-graham-continues-development |title=Braves prospect Graham continues development |work=Augusta Chronicle |date= |access-date=January 13, 2014}} Prior to the 2013 season, Baseball America ranked Graham as the 93rd best prospect in baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2013/2614739.html |title=2013 Top 100 Prospects |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |date=February 19, 2013 |access-date=January 13, 2014}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On December 10, 2014, at the Winter Meetings, the Minnesota Twins selected Graham from the Braves in the Rule 5 draft.{{cite news|last1=Berardino|first1=Mike|title=Twins take right-hander J.R. Graham in Rule 5 draft|url=http://www.twincities.com/2014/12/10/twins-take-right-hander-j-r-graham-in-rule-5-draft/|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Pioneer Press|date=December 10, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Phil|title=Twins reliever J.R. Graham works to become a Rule 5 keeper|url=http://www.startribune.com/twins-reliever-j-r-graham-works-to-become-a-rule-5-keeper/303363321/|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Star Tribune|date=May 12, 2015}} Graham made his major league debut on April 6, 2015, pitching two scoreless innings in relief of Phil Hughes against the Detroit Tigers.{{cite news|last1=Trister|first1=Noah|title=Former Santa Clara closer J.R. Graham makes big-league debut as Tigers beat Twins|url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/sports/2015-04-07/former-santa-clara-closer-jr-graham-makes-big-league-debut-as-tigers-beat-twins/1776425141290.html|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=San Mateo Daily Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=April 7, 2015}}{{cite news|title=J.R. Graham overcame nerves in debut|url=http://video.startribune.com/j-r-graham-overcame-nerves-in-debut/298809001/|access-date=February 9, 2016|work=Star Tribune|date=April 6, 2015}}

In preparation for the 2016 season, Graham lost 40 pounds over the offseason, going from {{convert|210|lbs}} to {{convert|170|lbs}}. Graham was designated for assignment by the Twins on May 6, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/15476657/minnesota-twins-demote-john-ryan-murphy-cut-ryan-orourke-jr-graham|title = Twins send down Murphy, release two relievers|date = May 6, 2016}}

=New York Yankees=

On May 14, 2016, the Twins traded Graham to the New York Yankees in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/twins-deal-graham-to-yankees-prepare-to-face-indians/379529421/ |title=Twins deal Graham to Yankees, prepare to face Indians - StarTribune.com |website=www.startribune.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517065720/http://www.startribune.com/twins-deal-graham-to-yankees-prepare-to-face-indians/379529421 |archive-date=May 17, 2016}} He spent the 2016 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League, and Low–A Staten Island Yankees. In 17 games for Trenton, Graham compiled a 1.82 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 5 saves. He made four appearances outside of Trenton, allowing no runs with 7 strikeouts for Scranton and Staten Island. The Yankees removed Graham from the 40–man roster and outrighted him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on September 26.{{cite web |url=http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160926&content_id=203486360 |title=New York Yankees outright RHP J.R. Graham to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre |website=web.yesnetwork.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928165522/http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160926&content_id=203486360 |archive-date=September 28, 2016}}

Graham spent the 2017 campaign with Scranton and Trenton, accumulating a 4.55 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 2 saves across {{fraction|29|2|3}} innings pitched. He was released by the Yankees organization on January 21, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-jan-19-25-2018/#1B6tJA1VPC43hBC5.97|title = Top MLB Prospects, Scouting Reports, Analysis}}