Right-handed pitcher Gordon Graceffo didn’t know it at the time, but the way the Cardinals’ series opener unfolded Thursday night against the Cincinnati Reds paved the way for his first career big-league promotion.
The Cardinals used three relief pitchers in an 11-4 loss to the Reds at Busch Stadium. Two of those relievers, John King (two innings) and Giovanny Gallegos (1 2/3 innings) pitched more than an inning.
The third reliever, Ryan Fernandez, entered the game because the Cardinals scored late to bring the margin to fewer than eight runs. The margin falling to fewer than eight runs eliminated the possibility of a position player pitching the final inning. Veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford had warmed up in the bullpen in the eighth inning.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the club needed a “fresh arm†in order to not be left “vulnerable†on Friday night.
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Prior to Friday’s game, the Cardinals selected Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis. They optioned reliever Kyle Leahy to Memphis in a corresponding roster move. In order to make room for Graceffo on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals transferred Steven Matz to the 60-day injured list.
“We went short in our pen yesterday and risked it, hoping that we had a longer outing (from our starter) and we’d be able to give Leahy one more day of rest,†Marmol said.
Graceffo, a former fifth-round draft pick of the Cardinals (2021), was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022. He’d been a non-roster invitee to major-league spring training the past two years.
Graceffo had been in the starting rotation for Memphis all season. He went 8-5 with a 3.84 ERA in 14 starts. He has struck out 70 batters, walked 29 and registered a WHIP of 1.35 and a .247 opponent’s batting average in 75 innings.
Originally, Graceffo had been scheduled to pitch Tuesday for Memphis. However, Adam Kloffenstein returned to the Triple-A rotation after a one-day stint in the majors, and Kloffenstein slotted in to start Tuesday instead. That bumped Graceffo to start Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, Graceffo received a phone call from pitching coach Darwin Marrero letting him know he would not start Wednesday and to “sit tight.†When Graceffo showed up at the field Thursday, he was told that he’d start Friday in Gwinnett, Georgia.
Then after Thursday night’s game while back at the team hotel, Memphis manager Ben Johnson called Graceffo and told him he’d be going to the majors. Left-hander Zack Thompson started Friday for Memphis.
How fast did things move from there for Graceffo?
“Very fast, not a lot of sleep,†Graceffo replied with a chuckle. “I kind of called everyone I needed to call. Packed up all my stuff. Left the hotel real early, flew here. I got here around 9 o’clock and just kind of settled in and saw my family before I came to the field. Then I came here to get the work in.â€
Graceffo said his family arrived Friday morning in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, and he estimated between 30 and 40 tickets were secured for family and friends.
The Cardinals leaned on their bullpen heavily during their recent road trip, including a stretch of five consecutive one-run games and two extra-inning games. They promoted Kloffenstein from Triple-A for last week’s game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and Kloffenstein ultimately pitched in a setup role in a one-run victory.
Graceffo said he and his teammates rushed back into the clubhouse at the conclusion of last Thursday’s game in order to watch Kloffenstein’s outing on television.
“It was really cool to hear him talk about it and hear about his experience,†Graceffo said. “It sounded nuts. It’s nice talking to those guys when they come back down, just about the experience. It kind of helps you visualize what it’s going to be like.â€
The Cardinals have also had two bullpen starts within their last eight games, one triggered just minutes before first pitch in Miami against the Marlins when Kyle Gibson’s back tightness during pregame warmups kept him from making his start.
The Cardinals used nine pitchers during the two games of Wednesday’s doubleheader, and starting pitcher Miles Mikolas lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his start Thursday night
“I think the biggest thing is the prep,†Graceffo said of pitching out of the bullpen. “You kind of have to prepare every day like you’re pitching that day, and you kind of just have to stay locked in a little bit longer.
“Starters obviously have your own day, and you have your routine. You go through the week preparing for that start. When you’re coming out of the pen, you’ve just got to be ready for anything.â€
Cardinals to honor Herzog against the Royals
The Cardinals announced Friday they’ll celebrate the life and career of former manager Whitey Herzog by hosting “Whitey Herzog Night†at Busch Stadium when they host the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, July 10.
Herzog, who died April 15 at the age of 92, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010. He spent 11 years as manager of the Cardinals from 1980-1990, following managerial stints with the Texas Rangers (1973), California Angels (1974) and Royals (1975-1979).
Herzog helmed the Cardinals to the World Series championship in 1982 as well as NL pennants in 1985 and 1987. He won the NL Manager of the Year in 1985.
Members of Herzog’s family, including his children Debra, David and Jim, will attend Whitey Herzog Night and take part in the pregame ceremony. Cardinals Hall of Fame members Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Ted Simmons, Chris Carpenter and Jason Isringhausen are expected to attend the ceremony.