AJ Gracia

AJ Gracia
Atlanta Braves
Outfielder
Born: (2004-10-27) October 27, 2004
Monroe, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Stats at Baseball Reference 

Andres John Gracia (born October 27, 2004) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Amateur career

Raised in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Gracia attended Ranney School.[1] During his freshman year of high school, he verbally committed to Duke as a left-handed pitcher and outfielder.[2] During his senior year of high school, he batted .467 with 12 home runs and was awarded the New Jersey Player of the Year Award by Prep Baseball.[3]

In his freshman year at Duke, he primarily played in the left field, batting .305 and collecting 14 home runs with a .440 on-base percentage. He broke Duke's freshman home run record when he hit 14 home runs.[4] At the conclusion of the season, Gracia was selected onto Baseball America's Freshman All America Second Team.[5] In 2024, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[6]

In June 2025, Gracia entered the transfer portal and subsequently committed to the University of Virginia to follow his former Duke coach, Chris Pollard, who had taken a head coaching position there a few months before.[7][8]

Professional career

Gracia was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round with the ninth overall selection in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft.[9] He signed with Atlanta for a $3.9 million bonus on July 14, 2026.[10]

Personal life

Sister Marlena plays Division 1 volleyball at the University of Oregon.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Zedalis, Joe. "AJ Gracia of Ranney is the NJ.com Baseball Player of the Year, 2023", NJ.com, June 26, 2023. Accessed June 22, 2026. "The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder from Monroe Township finished the 2023 season with a .500 batting average, .496 on-base percentage and 1.103 slugging percentage."
  2. ↑ "Ranney School Freshman AJ Gracia Verbally Commits to Duke". Ranney School. September 9, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2023 New Jersey Player of the Year: AJ Gracia". www.prepbaseballreport.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Virginia Baseball Player Profile: Duke Transfer AJ Gracia". Virginia Cavaliers On SI. June 19, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Gracia, Johnson Add Baseball America Freshman All-America Honors". Duke University. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ "AJ Gracia". capecodleague.com. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ Flaherty, Peter (June 11, 2025). "AJ Gracia Transfer: Duke Star Among Several Blue Devils To Enter Portal". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Introducing the Top 20 college prospects in the 2026 Draft class". MLB.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ Potter, P. J. (July 11, 2026). "2026 MLB Draft: AJ Gracia of Ranney drafted in first round, ninth overall by Atlanta Braves". nj. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Braves sign draft picks, including first-rounder AJ Gracia". ajc. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Marlena Gracia - Women's Volleyball". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
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