J.R. Graham

Johnathan Ryan Graham...2008 graduate of Livermore (CA) High School...attended Santa Clara University (CA) for three years from 2009-11, where he went 4-9, 4.83 ERA (123.0 IP, 66 ER) with 32 walks and 101 strikeouts in 65 games (5 starts)...was the highest player drafted from Santa Clara University (4th Round, 146th overall) since Randy Winn was selected by the Florida Marlins in 1995 (3rd round, 65th overall)... in 2011, his 0.68 walks-per-9.0 innings ranked him fourth nationally.

2015

Made Twins Opening Day roster, the first of career....Made major league debut April 6 at Detroit, tossing 2.0 scoreless inning of relief with two hits allowed and one walk....Recorded first career strikeout April 11 at Chicago-AL, fanning Alexei Ramirez. AMade first career start June 6 vs. Milwaukee (filling rotation spot from postponement), allowing one run on six hits in 4.0 innings pitched....Earned first major league win August 25 at Tampa Bay, allowing one run in 0.2 inning of relief....Placed on 15-day disabled list August 26 with right shoulder inflammation; reinstated September 11...tied for eighth among AL rookies in games (34) at time of injury....Ranked sixth among AL rookie relievers in innings pitched (59.2) and eighth in baseball...ranked seventh among AL rookie relievers in strikeouts (50).

2014

Spent second straight season with Double-A Mississippi (Atlanta)...Posted a 1.86 ERA (19.1 IP, 4 ER) in five April appearances...Allowed just two home runs all season, both coming in same game June 2 at Montgomery...Named Southern League midseason All-Star...Placed on 7-day disabled list June 27 with right triceps tendinitis; reinstated July 19...Made first 19 appearances as starter and final eight as reliever...Went 1-5, 5.26 ERA (63.1 IP, 37 ER) in 19 starts and 0-0, 7.88 ERA (8.0 IP, 7 ER) in eight relief appearances...Selected by the Twins in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft December 11...Named 20th best prospect in Twins system by Baseball America entering 2015.

2013

In his third professional season, was limited to just eight starts with Double-A Mississippi, going 1-3 with a 4.04 ERA, after suffering a right shoulder strain in May...His final start of the season came on 5/13 vs. Huntsville when he completed 2.0 innings before being shut down for the remainder of the season...Tossed 7.0 scoreless frames while allowing just four hits in his only win of the season on 4/21 at Mobile...His highest strikeout total was seven, coming on 4/16 vs. Jackson. He allowed just one earned run through 6.0 innings, but took a no decision in the M-Braves 2-1 win...Enters the 2014 season ranked by Baseball America as the Braves' No. 3 prospect.

2012

Named by Baseball America as the Braves' second-best prospect entering the 2013 season...Was named the Braves' Minor League Pitcher of the Year...Made 26 starts between Lynchburg and Mississippi, going 12-2 with an organizational-best 2.80 ERA...His 12 wins tied for second most among Braves farmhands...Named a Carolina League mid-season All-Star after going 8-1 with a 2.53 ERA during the first half...Pitched a career-high 8.0 innings on 5/6 vs. Myrtle Beach, allowing just one run on six hits...Garnered Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of 8/20-26, going 2-0 while allowing just four hits and no runs over 12.0 innings...Held right-handed hitters to a .197 (63-for-320) average, compared to .273 (60-for-220) vs. lefties...Pitched 5.0 innings or more in 23 of his 26 starts.

2011

Entered 2012 rated as the 13th-best prospect in the Braves organization according to Baseball America...Selected as the organization's Pitcher of the Year for Danville after going 5-2 with a 1.72 ERA (11 ER/57.2 IP) for the D-Braves...His 1.72 ERA led the Appalachian League and was the best amongst Braves farmhands...Put together a four-game winning streak that spanned his final six starts of the season in which he posted a 1.26 ERA (5 ER/35.2 IP) along the way...Selected to the Baseball America Rookie All-Star team.