AJ Graffanino

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #27 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: A polished defender with major league bloodlines—his father Tony had a 13-year career—Graffanino was a needed addition to a system that lacked shortstop depth a year ago. Graffanino played in just one game this season after undiagnosed gastrointestinal issues sidelined him for the entirety of the season. The ailment lingered for Graffanino throughout the year before he started to recover in September, but at that point the season was lost. The injury left Graffanino behind in at-bats, which are sorely needed for the glove-first infielder.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Graffanino has above-average range at shortstop with twitchy athleticism and above-average running ability, to go along with solid hands and above-average arm strength that will allow him to stick at the position long-term. His bat is the bigger question, as Graffanino has well below-average power and lacked much history hitting at a high level. He's leaned into being a slap-and-dash hitter too frequently in the past and will need to improve on that in the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: He'll have to make up for lost time in 2020 and he should have his first full minor league season.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #25 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Graffanino, the son of former big leaguer Tony Graffanino, immediately became the team's best minor league shortstop the day he was drafted, after impressing with his glove for three years at Washington.
  
  Scouting Report: Graffanino missed two months during the college season with a hamstring injury, but he showed a significantly better bat when he was healthy. Graffanino showed a pesky approach focused on putting the ball in play with very few attempts to drive the ball. A former switch-hitter, Graffanino now hits exclusively from the left side. He has bottom-of-the-scale power. He's still a better glove than bat. Defensively, Graffanino has a shortstop's twitchy range and an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: Graffanino is the only player in full-season ball for the Braves who projects as a potential big league shortstop, although his light bat limits his upside. He's ready for high Class A Florida.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #249 prospect in 2018 draft
  One of the most talented defenders in college baseball, Graffanino wasn't able to showcase the leather as much this spring, as he missed almost the entirety of March and April with hamstring issues. When healthy, Graffanino is a quick-twitch infielder with range and average arm strength. There could easily be above-average arm strength in Graffanino's tank, but scouts have rarely seen the 6-foot-2 shortstop completely air it out on throws. Some scouts believe Graffanino will need more polish defensively as a pro, as he tends to speed up the game and plays on a turf field at Husky Ballpark, where it's easy to pick up bad defensive habits. Still, he projects as an above-average defender in the future. Offensively, his bat is light and although he's hit better this spring in a shortened season, scouts have too frequently watched him try to slap the ball and get on base with above-average speed out of the lefthanded batter's box. Graffanino came into Washington as a switch-hitter, but now hits exclusively from the left side.
• Ranked #205 prospect in 2015 draft
  Graffanino, the son of Tony Graffanino, a 13-year major league veteran, capped his high school career by helping Northwest Christian School to a Division III Arizona state championship this spring. The Washington commit is a tall, lean shortstop with above-average range and an arm that could be plus when he starts to get straight-line carry on it. He moves well on the field and plays with confidence. Offensively, the switch-hitting Graffanino shows average bat speed, but doesn't attack the baseball and needs to get stronger. His broad shoulders should allow him to fill out his 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame without affecting his above-average speed. Scouts believe that Graffanino will likely head off to college next fall.

• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A polished defender with major league bloodlines—his father Tony had a 13-year career—Graffanino was a needed addition to a system that lacked shortstop depth a year ago. Graffanino played in just one game this season after undiagnosed gastrointestinal issues sidelined him for the entirety of the season. The ailment lingered for Graffanino throughout the year before he started to recover in September, but at that point the season was lost. The injury left Graffanino behind in at-bats, which are sorely needed for the glove-first infielder.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Graffanino has above-average range at shortstop with twitchy athleticism and above-average running ability, to go along with solid hands and above-average arm strength that will allow him to stick at the position long-term. His bat is the bigger question, as Graffanino has well below-average power and lacked much history hitting at a high level. He's leaned into being a slap-and-dash hitter too frequently in the past and will need to improve on that in the future.
  
  THE FUTURE: He'll have to make up for lost time in 2020 and he should have his first full minor league season.