Tony Graffanino

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Tony Graffanino
position=Infielder
team=Cleveland Indians
number=--
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|6|6
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=April 19
debutyear=1996
debutteam=Atlanta Braves
statyear=2007
stat3label=Batting average
stat3value=.267
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=58
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=302
teams=
*Atlanta Braves (by|1996–by|1998)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|1999–by|2000)
*Chicago White Sox (by|2000–by|2003)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2004–by|2005)
*Boston Red Sox (by|2005)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2006)
*Milwaukee Brewers (by|2006–by|2007)

Anthony Joseph Graffanino (pronEng|ˈɡɹæfɨˌniːnoʊ̪) (born Anthony Joseph Graffagnino on June 6, 1972 in Amityville, New York) is a infielder in Major League Baseball, in the Cleveland Indians organization.

Career

Graffanino is primarily a contact hitter (just 481 strikeouts in 2787 big-league at bats) who is able to get on base (career .336 OBP) – and his speed is above average, with 53 stolen bases in 78 attempts. He excels as a situational hitter, being capable of hitting behind the runner and dropping down a bunt. As a fielder, he has the ability to play every infield position and left field. He has an above-average arm, which helps him in the LF and on the left side of the infield.

During Graffanino's minor league career, he spent time with Pulaski in by|1990, the Idaho Falls Braves of the Pioneer League in by|1991, the Macon Braves of the South Atlantic League in by|1992, the Durham Bulls in by|1993 and the Greenville Braves of the Southern League in by|1994.

After spending three years with the Atlanta Braves, 2 1⁄2 seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and another 3 1⁄2 with the Chicago White Sox, Graffanino played only second base for the Kansas City Royals in by|2004, but moved around more in by|2005. Obtained by the Boston Red Sox after the All-Star Game, he started at second base following the cut of Mark Bellhorn.

In 2005, Graffanino hit .298 for the Royals and .319 with the Red Sox for a combined .309 (117-for-379), a career high. He also posted career numbers in RBI (38), runs (68), doubles (17), games (110), and hits. He received some notoriety, particularly in New England, for making an error in the fifth inning of Game Two of the 2005 American League Division Series which led to three unearned runs. The runs came on a two out, three run home run by White Sox 2B Tadahito Iguchi which proved to be the game winning hit. The Red Sox were swept in that series.

Graffanino was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers at the by|2006 All-Star Break for left-handed pitcher, Jorge De La Rosa.

In by|2007, Graffanino struggled to begin the year, but after the call up of talented prospect Ryan Braun, Graffanino seemed to be invigorated and raised his sub .200 batting average to over .240 over a month's time. He slugged nine home runs in only 231 at bats that season. But on August 8, Graffanino tore his ACL, ending his season with a .238 batting average. After the 2007 World Series, he officially became a free agent.

On June 24, by|2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.

Facts

*Graffanino has been very active in the community during his career. in 2002, he coordinated and led baseball clinics for boys and girls from Mercy Home at U.S. Cellular Field and signed autographs at the James R. Thompson Center to promote the need for organ donors.
*Graffanino was born Anthony Graffagnino but dropped the "g" after numerous mispronunciations from minor league announcers.
*Grew up in East Islip, New York, also home town to football great Boomer Esiason.
*Graffanino lives with his wife, Nicole, and two sons, A.J. and Nicholas, in Hockessin, Delaware.
*Graffanino has the distinction of having been traded away not once, but twice by the Kansas City Royals, first to the Boston Red Sox in 2005 and then to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006.
*Nickname is "Trout".

External links

* [http://www.graffanino.com The Tony Graffanino Foundation] - The Tony Graffanino Foundation
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/graffto01.shtml Baseball Reference] - career statistics and analysis
* [http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=115017 Major League Baseball] - player information
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5590 ESPN] - profile and daily updates
* [http://www.brewcrewball.com/special/Tony+Graffanino Resources and links at BrewCrewBall.com]