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Kendall Chase Graveman (born December 21, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox.
Graveman played college baseball for Mississippi State University. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft, and played parts of two seasons in minor league baseball before being called up by the Blue Jays in 2014. Working exclusively as a starting pitcher since his first full year in the major leagues, he became a relief pitcher in 2020 following a medical diagnosis of a benign bone tumor in his cervical spine. Kendall Graveman, ‘electric’ in return to Mariners, embracing new bullpen role thenewstribune.com
Graveman began the 2014 season with Lansing, but was promoted to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays after making four starts for the Lugnuts and posting a 2–0 record with a 0.34 ERA, including a near no-hitter over the Beloit Snappers. In Dunedin, he compiled an 8–4 record in 16 starts, with a 2.23 ERA and 64 strikeouts. Graveman was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and made just 1 start, a 6-inning win over the Binghamton Mets, before being promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In his Triple-A debut, he took the loss, pitching 6 innings in a 2–1 loss to the Norfolk Tides. Graveman would allow only 1 earned run in his following 3 starts, bringing his ERA to 1.04 through 26 innings with Buffalo. He finished the 2014 minor league season with a 14–6 record over 167 innings, with an ERA of 1.83, 115 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.03. He also gave up only 2 home runs and issued 31 walks, for a BB/9 of 1.7. On September 3, Graveman was named to Baseball America's First Team All-Stars for 2014.
On April 20, 2016, Graveman became the first pitcher to bat at the new Yankee Stadium and struck out after 3 pitches. Graveman batted in the Cleanup hitter, and became the first pitcher to bat clean-up since Babe Ruth in . Graveman became the A's only consistent starter for the 2016 season, notching 10 wins in 31 starts.
With Sonny Gray starting the 2017 season on the DL with a lat strain, Graveman was chosen to start on opening day, the first opening day start of his career. He pitched six innings, struck out seven and took the win over the Los Angeles Angels. On April 17, 2017, Graveman was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a right shoulder strain. His first game back with the A's, April 27, Graveman executed an unassisted double play. The previous such play made by an Oakland pitcher was on July 11, 1971, by Blue Moon Odom, who happened to be in attendance at Angel Stadium and witnessed Graveman make the play. After starting a couple of games after being activated, Graveman was placed again on the disabled list on May 29 due to shoulder soreness.
On March 20, Graveman was announced as the 2018 opening day starter for the second consecutive year. After starting the season 0–5 with an 8.89 ERA, Graveman was demoted to Triple-A on April 26. Graveman underwent Tommy John surgery on July 24, 2018. He was non-tendered by the Athletics on November 30, 2018, and became a free agent.
On August 17, 2020, it was announced that Graveman had a benign bone tumor in his cervical spine. Following a nearly month-long stay on the injured list, he returned to the active roster as a relief pitcher, citing less stress/pain on the tumor as the reason for his conversion. Graveman finished the 2020 season with a 1–3 record and a 5.79 ERA in 11 games, including two starts.
On October 28, 2020, the Mariners declined their $3.5 million team option on his contract for the season, making him a free agent. He re-signed with the Mariners the following day on a one-year, $1.25 million contract with a reported $2.5 million in incentives which, if reached, would represent a slight raise from the team option had it been exercised.
In 30 appearances for the Mariners in 2021, Graveman was 4–0 with 10 saves and recorded a 0.82 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 33 innings.
With Houston in the second half of the 2021 season, Graveman was 1–1 with a 3.13 ERA, and struck out 27 batters in 23 innings. In Game 5 of the 2021 World Series, Graveman became the final MLB pitcher to record an at-bat, due to the adoption of the designated hitter by the National League prior to the start of the 2022 season. On November 3, 2021, Graveman was declared a free agent.
On January 16, 2024, Graveman underwent right shoulder surgery, with reports stating that he would likely miss the entirety of the season. Following the season, he elected free agency.
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