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.

Gordon sustained that level of excellence for the Wildcats over the full 2021 season, posting a 7-2, 1.54 mark with 86 strikeouts and 13 walks in 82 innings.

July 2021: The Cardinals were happy to scoop Graceffo up in the fifth round, out of Villanova, and sign him to an over-slot $500,000 deal, via scout Jim Negrych.

In 2023, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Graceffo as the 7th-best prospect in the Cardinals organization in the spring of 2023. He was at #9 a year later, early in 2024. Gordon was at #16 in 2025.

Dec 22, 2022: Cards breakout prospect of 2023:  Gordon Graceffo (No. 3/MLB No. 79)

Graceffo was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 204 Draft prospect in 2021 and went 151st overall to St. Louis that summer. Just over a year later, he was in our Top 100 ranks on the strength of added fastball velocity in the mid-90s, a good four-pitch mix and solid control. The right-hander finished his age-22 season at Double-A Springfield after a dominant High-A turn, and while his whiff numbers backed up a bit in the Texas League, his quick ascent, coupled with the overall improved stuff, could get him Major League rotation looks by the end of the upcoming campaign. (Mayo & Dykstra - MLB.com - Dec 22, 2022)

Jan 6, 2023: When the Cardinals faced a potential rainout of their Grapefruit League night game against the Astros the previous March, a change was made to the schedule and Albert Pujols, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Yadier Molina and Tyler O’Neill were moved to a daytime batting-practice session at the Spring Training complex in Jupiter, Fla.

The surprise pitcher for that impromptu BP session was Minor League flamethrower Gordon Graceffo, who had turned 22 and was coming off a promising season at Single-A Palm Beach. Landing that opportunity said plenty about what the Cardinals thought of the prospect as they wouldn’t want an erratic and unrefined pitcher facing their top talent.

What happened next were several moments that propelled Graceffo on a path that might lead him to the big leagues this season. Not only did Graceffo use the adrenaline coursing through his veins to routinely hit 98 and 99 mph on the radar gun, but he also had some of the game’s greatest hitters leaving the batter’s box muttering to themselves. Although that was plenty memorable, it was smashes by Arenado (a mammoth home run) and Goldschmidt (an opposite-field ground-rule double) that stuck out most to Graceffo – as he confidently announced his legitimacy as an elite prospect.

“When the organization puts you in that position, it’s a boost to the confidence, and I’m glad I was able to put some of those guys away,” said Graceffo, the Cardinals’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2021. “I called my parents and let them know. You tell them about Arenado taking you 450 [feet] off the wall of the facility, that’s funny. There was some stuff on social media, and a lot of my teammates and friends reached out and said, ‘That’s crazy!’”

Graceffo, fresh off a 2022 season in which he went 10-6 with 139 strikeouts in 139 innings with High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, is hoping that this Spring Training will be even more notable for him -- making a push onto the Cardinals’ roster. Though he prefers to be a starter, Graceffo said he is willing to work in relief, using his swing-and-miss stuff out of the bullpen, something St. Louis desperately needs.

Bulked up to the 230 pounds the Cardinals wanted, Graceffo’s fastball regularly hovered in the 95-98 mph range, and he hit 100 mph several times last season. One instance came in his final start of 2022 -- a masterpiece for Double-A Springfield in which he retired the first 17 batters, took a perfect game into the sixth inning and struck out nine.

“That night was one of those where you feel like everything is working and you can put the ball where you want,” he recalled. “Once you have that, you have to capitalize. That was a great way to finish.”

That performance, combined with what Graceffo did during the impromptu outing against the Cardinals’ top sluggers last spring, likely played a role in president of baseball operations John Mozeliak mentioning after the season that the hard-throwing righty would have a shot to make the Opening Day roster.

Graceffo’s Villanova manager -- former Cardinals draftee and Twins/D-backs pitcher Kevin Mulvey -- told the flamethrower years ago that he had the stuff to make it to the Majors. Now, that opportunity is seemingly at Graceffo’s fingertips.

“In Double-A, those are legit hitters and guys who will make it in the big leagues, and once I figured that level out, everything clicked, and I felt really confident,” he said. “It’s a steppingstone and a part of the journey, and now I’m hoping to take that next step in the spring.” (J Denton - MLB.com - Jan 6, 2023)

MLB debut (June 29, 2024): For his very first Major League assignment, Gordon was asked to retire one of the hottest hitters on the planet.

With a third-inning double against St. Louis starter Sonny Gray, Jonathan India had already extended two streaks in the eventual 9-4 loss at Busch Stadium -- he’d extended his hitting streak to 11 and his doubles streak to seven. Heading into his fifth-inning at-bat against Graceffo, India was hitting a robust .513 in his past 45 plate appearances, and Graceffo knew it.

“Definitely,” he said with a laugh. “They had all the scouting reports ready for us.”

The Cardinals needed Graceffo, their No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, not only to stop the bleeding in that fifth inning -- Cincinnati had already scored six runs and India was up with a runner on second base -- but they needed him to keep the game from spiraling into a bullpen-draining parade of relievers. With the Reds ahead 8-1 and the Cardinals playing their sixth game in five days, bullpen preservation was very much an issue. The rookie was undaunted by the assignment, even though he admitted he didn’t feel his legs running in from the bullpen, and he didn’t hear anything -- cheering, music, anything -- on that jog. He was able to focus when the moment mattered most.

Gordon got India to ground out to end the inning and then proceeded to give his fellow pitchers the rest of the afternoon off, too. Graceffo pitched 4 1/3 innings in his MLB debut, striking out four while allowing three hits. (Ryan Fagan)

It will be an emotional three days for Cardinals reliever Gordon Graceffo and his father, Gerald, when St. Louis plays the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in early August.

Gordon, 26, will likely be in high-leverage situations in the Bronx, but there will be some irony once he steps on the mound. Like Gerald, Gordon grew up a huge Yankees fan. Gerald, a season-ticket holder for years until Gordon went to Villanova University, would often take his first born to the Bronx to see legends such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

Gordon was like any other kid, looking for autographs, watching pitchers throw in the bullpen and watching the Yankees take batting practice. Gordon, who was 3 when he went to his first Yankees game, is old enough to remember watching the Yankees win their most recent World Series title in 2009.

“It will be a little more emotional because we spent a lot of time in that building whether it was the old stadium or the new stadium,” Gerald said. “So having him walk on the mound will be pretty emotional for all of us.”
 
Gordon, a native of Cranford, N.J., remembers those days in the Bronx like it was yesterday.

“We had Saturday tickets for every game at home until I went to college,” Gordon remembers. “Those days were awesome. We would just go to the ballpark. We would get there early around BP time.”

While going to Yankee Stadium as a kid was phenomenal for the younger Graceffo, having his dad’s love and support spoke volumes. To this day, Gerald texts his son before every game and that includes the Cardinals games he attends.

“My father means everything,” Gordon said. “He has been behind me since Day 1, obviously. He has given me support and encouragement over the years. He has been unbelievable. … In Little League, high school, in college and today, he has been a huge supporting factor in my life.”

That support includes the time Gordon was a wrestler for the Cranford High School team. Guess who was one of the assistant coaches on the squad? Yes, Gerald. Gordon didn’t love wrestling, but being coached by his dad meant they would spend a lot of time together.
 
“It was a lot of fun coaching Gordon, and it was a good experience for me, too,” Gerald said.
Gordon claims he wasn’t a good wrestler, although Gerald begs to differ.

“He was a little bit above average,” Gerald insists. “Was he at the top of his class? Probably not. He held his own. I taught him some valuable lessons. Eventually, he knew he wanted to play baseball.”

Through his wrestling, Gordon learned that he could “only control what I can control.” He takes that same philosophy on the baseball field. Gordon doesn’t worry about when a teammate makes an error behind him or a catcher commits a passed ball.

“My father likes to say I’m the pitcher that I am today because of wrestling,” Gordon said. “You have to fend for yourself and just go on the attack. It’s a lot like pitching. I feel like, even though you have those guys behind me, it’s you vs. the hitter. That’s kind of how wrestling is.”
If wrestling is the reason for Gordon’s success on the mound, look at the numbers he has piled up so far in 2026: In his first 29 games, Gordon went 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA, while opposing hitters had a .165 opponents' batting average.
 
“We are extremely proud. I’m happy for him, personally, watching him do all the work in the offseason,” Gerald said. “To share in it, we’ve been very lucky. I try to go to games when I can. I’ve been lucky enough to see three of his four wins.”

Gerald will be the first to say that he wasn’t good at playing baseball. He credits Gordon’s coaches in high school and college for teaching him how to play the game the right way.
“He had great coaches from Little League to college, teaching him the basics of the sport,” Gerald said. “I give a lot of the coaches credit. There were some great pitching coaches growing up. My role was to get him in front of the right people. I always knew he was pretty good and I didn’t want to get in the way.
 
“When he was little, yes, we spent time in the backyard playing catch. He was hitting off a tee and I hit him grounders. He was the kind of kid that would never say no if you asked him to play catch. He always wanted to practice and play. That was a joy as a parent. He always had a love for the game even at an early age.” (B Ladson - MLB.com - June 19, 2026)

Graceffo is a burly starter with a body built to eat innings. His track record backs that description, with over 130 innings pitched in two of the last three seasons.

Graceffo mixes four pitches: a 40 grade four-seam FASTBALL, SLIDER, CURVEBALL and CHANGEUP.

His four-seam fastball sits 93-94 mph, touching 97 mph at peak. The pitch has a well below-average shape and did not perform well in 2024. Graceffo’s 45 grade slider is his most-used secondary and doesn’t miss many bats but generates grounders. Graceffo’s curveball is his best pitch, grading 55 and sitting 79-80 mph with good depth. His 45 grade changeup is a low-to-mid-80s pitch with some arm-side run. Graceffo has above-average command of his pitch mix and shows the ability to consistently throw strikes, with 55 grade Control. (Geoff Pontes - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2025)

2024 Season: I’m still not really sure what to make of Graceffo.  In 2021 and 2022 he was the hot prospect, rising up the ranks with his eye on St. Louis.  In 2023, I was able to watch some of his Memphis starts and it seemed like every time I did, he’d get beat around the bush.  It wasn’t just my imagination or selection bias either; he had an ERA approaching five in an injury-plagued year.  So it felt like ’24 was going to be a year he needed to reestablish himself as a big deal and, honestly, I don’t think he did.  He did get a chance to make two appearances in the big leagues, which is pretty big, and he held his own in that limited time.  So that’s definitely a plus.

His work in Memphis was uneven, though.  For instance, his August he threw six scoreless innings, allowed six runs in 3.1, came back with six scoreless, then three straight starts where he allowed five or more runs.  Kyle Reis can give you more information than the box scores give me, but it just doesn’t scream a guy that is ready to take a spot in a major league rotation.  That said, he’ll be 25 next March so he’s still got plenty of time to figure out how to get everything to click. (Cardinal70 - Nov 14, 2024)

Graceffo mixes four pitches, led by his four-seam fastball that sits 93-95 mph with average ride and arm-side 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. 

Gordon 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. (Geoff Pontes - BA Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2024)

Gordon started the 2021 season with his FASTBALL 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 mph in pro ball, and at 6-foot-4, 228 pounds he has some projection left to continue adding velocity. He hit 100 mph during the spring of 2023.

Graceffo rocks back in his windup before becoming square to the plate, and that kinetic motion can make him tougher for hitters to pick up. He spots his 94-96 mph fastball well, and that’s needed since it doesn’t come with a ton of movement. His upper-80s slider can look like the heater right up until it cuts away from righties and in on lefties. A low-80s sinking changeup plays even better off the fastball now because of the increased separation, while his mid-70s curveball looks like an average fourth pitch that brings verticality to the table.

The former Wildcat worked deeper into games than many first-year pitchers because of his impressive ability to fill up the zone. That caught up to him in the Texas League as Double-A hitters were able to make more contact, but an improved ability to work around the edges helped him end 2022 on a high. Graceffo’s special command gives him a promising floor as a No. 5 starter, and he can be more if he uses the breadth of his arsenal to generate more whiffs. (BA - Spring 2023)

He commands his FASTBALL well, pounding both sides of the strike zone and grades 55. His best secondary is an upper-70s CHANGEUP with fading life and sinking action that is at least 55 grade an flashes 60. He rounds out his arsenal with a SLIDER that is a 60 grade offering and a 50 grade CURVEBALL with two-plane break. He has very impressive 65 grade command.

Gordon is 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. (Chris Hilburn-Trenkle - BA Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2023)

The 6-foot-4 hurler gained strength in the winter before his junior year and showed sustained velocity bumps through his college, summer ball and pro seasons. After throwing in the low-90s at school, he is much more consistently around mid-90s and touches the upper-90s. Beyond the improved velocity, Graceffo throws a promising slider that he can dot on the edges of the zone and which flashes plus. His low-80s, sinking changeup remains above-average from his college days, and a mid-70s curve is a good vertical breaking option, though it’ll likely settle in as his fourth pitch.

Graceffo’s ability to throw strikes has helped him work deep into Peoria and Springfield games already. While there are some concerns that his K rate has dipped at Double-A, his overall command of the four-pitch arsenal has induced weak contact and kept runners off the basepaths. The former Wildcat already looks like a fifth-round steal for the Cardinals. (Spring 2022)

Graceffo has seen has fastball velocity climb substantially. He was clocked the spring of 2022 up to 100 mph and sits 94-96 in games, but it’s his trio of average or better secondaries that have driven his success. His bread-and-butter is his low-80s changeup with tumble and fade and his tight mid-80s slider.

His ability to pepper the zone with a variety of pitches and added power have significantly raised Graceffo’s stock. (Geoff Pontes - Baseball America - June, 2022)

2022 Season: High A was way too easy for right-hander Gordon Graceffo, a fifth-rounder of the Cardinals last year. Thus, after eight starts with a 0.99 ERA and minuscule 0.679 WHIP, the Cardinals bumped the 22-year-old Villanova product to Double-A Springfield. And, yep, things got tougher.

In his first 15 starts at the new level, Graceffo pitched to a 4.79 ERA. Strong starts would be followed by clunkers. An unsustainable 2.4-percent walk rate ticked north — to just more than six percent, so not crazily high — and his strikeout rate ticked south. But as the Double-A season came to a close, the 6-foot-4 righty caught a tailwind. Graceffo allowed no runs and only five hits while striking out 22 over his final three starts, a span of 16 2/3 innings. He didn’t walk a batter over his final two. That’s going out on a high note.  (By Zach Buchanan - Sep 20, 2022)

2023 Season: Stats (AAA): 86.0 IP / 4.92 ERA / 1.54 WHIP / 81 SO

In 2024, Graceffo is the likely to get Major League innings. The 23-year-old is the lone top pitching prospect in the Cardinals organization to spend consistent time at AAA, with varying degrees of success.

The 23-year-old’s arsenal is what you want from a big league arm, boasting a 100+ mile per hour fastball, with a solid slider. He also has shown a plus changeup and a curveball that isn’t elite on its own but compliments his other offerings well. His biggest issue is his command; his walk rate is still far higher than what you’d like to see from a guy on the fringes of the Majors (4.71 BB/9), but the pieces are there to build around for the Cardinals. (Jack Mueller - Jan. 10, 2024)

2024 Season: Graceffo only received a 7.2-inning cameo in the big leagues, so there’s not much to go off of in that sample. However, he’s shown over the years in the minors that he’s a McGreevy type of pitcher that rarely misses starts and eats innings. There isn’t a whole lot about Graceffo that’ll blow you away, but he’s gradually turning into a command-first type of pitcher who manages his pitch mix well and is a capable back-end starter/multi-inning reliever in the making. (Eric Treuden | Feb 7, 2025 - Just Baseball)