Baseball Is A Family Affair For UW's Graffanino
October 20, 2015 | Baseball
By Brian Tom
For as far back as AJ Graffanino can remember, baseball has been in his blood. Graffanino, a freshman infielder for the Huskies from Peoria, Ariz., is the son of 13-year Major League Baseball veteran, Tony, so he has always naturally gravitated to the game.
The elder Graffanino played for seven MLB teams from 1996 through 2009. AJ was born to Tony and his wife, Nicole, in 1997 during Tony's second season in the Majors with the Atlanta Braves.
“He came out of the womb throwing a ball and swinging a bat and it just hasn't stopped,” joked Tony.
With a father in the Majors, it was easy for AJ to nurture his love of baseball. And every step of the way, at every stop and at every possible opportunity, AJ followed in his father's footsteps.
“He was my hero growing up,” AJ said of his father. “I wanted to be just like him.”
As a baby and pre-schooler, it was easier for Tony to be around AJ and his mom. But once AJ started school, it became harder for the family to stay together. Nicole set roots with AJ in Deleware, where she was from, so the youngster could have a stable school life. During the summers Tony would get to see AJ more, but living the dream of a being a professional baseball player and raising a family could be tough at times.
“I missed a lot in their lives,” recalled Tony. “I missed his first home run and just little things like that. I'm sure he wished I was there to see those moments and he knows I wish I could have been there.
“It's hard. It's a grind, that kind of a life, being away from your family and being in hotels or apartments, always travelling.”
When AJ was afforded the opportunity to be around his dad he took advantage of it at every step. He would often put on a uniform and shag fly balls in the outfield. The younger Graffanino also had the unique opportunity to meet, and sometimes learn, from some of the game's best players.
“At the end of his career and when he was with the Brewers, I would take groundballs with J.J. Hardy and my dad,” AJ remembered. “They would give me tips and were super nice to me.”
Not long after Tony retired from baseball, the family relocated to Arizona. There, Tony started working with Unlimited Potential Incorporated, an organization started and ran by former baseball players that spreads the word of Jesus Christ through baseball. AJ would travel with his father to help spread the word through baseball to places like Italy, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Once again, AJ was – and still is to this day – following in his father's footsteps by spreading the word of God.
“I am a Christian and I just feel like He has given me these gifts to just use them for His glory,” said AJ. “I just really feel like baseball is where it is at. I can build relationships with guys in the clubhouse, get to know them, invite guys to church and show my faith that way.
“On the field, I am trying to be perfect in my craft, but I try to be the same person all the time. I don't want to let baseball make me different. I want to always be positive and I don't really want to change. I just want to be the same AJ all the time.”
As AJ got older, it was clear he was a special talent on the baseball field. It had to help that he had his father's genes and had access to resources that the average baseball hopeful did not have, but AJ also worked diligently to hone his craft.
“We put in countless hours of hard work,” AJ recalled of his days of training with Tony. “It is awesome. It is good to have him; he has really, really helped me.”
The hard work paid off in the form of a state championship title with Northwest Christian as a senior and a baseball scholarship to attend Washington. He also had the option of going straight to professional ball out of high school, but ultimately he knew attending college and being a Husky was the right choice for him.
“I called all the teams that were talking to me before the draft and I was just like 'I am going to college, I want to be a Husky.' And they were like, 'It's a smart move, do that. You are going to enjoy it.'”
His dad often played devil's advocate in the decision process. When AJ was leaning towards going to college, he would tell him the advantages of playing professionally. When his son thought strongly about the draft, Tony would remind him of the advantages of going to college and how he wishes he would have opted for the college route.
Ultimately, Graffanino was still selected in the 25th round of the June 2015 Draft by the Cleveland Indians despite his warning to teams. He held firm on his commitment to attend Washington and has not looked back since.
“I couldn't miss out on the three best years of my life,” Graffanino said. “I don't regret a thing. I love it so far and I am really happy with the decision I made.”
The Husky coaches are equally happy about his decision. Defensively, Graffanino has shown good hands, a strong arm and plenty of range. At the plate, he is a switch-hitter that hits line drives and finds the gaps. He will compete for playing time this spring and is a natural fit at shortstop, but is willing and able to play any position around the infield.
While he's still battling to find a permanent home on the field, Graffanino is definitely comfortable in Seattle.
“I knew right when I visited that this was like home,” Graffanino recalled about the recruiting process. “Other places I visited didn't really feel like home.
“Washington is an up-and-coming program. It is on the rise, it is a beautiful place, it has amazing academics, it has all the resources and great coaches I need to become the best player.”
Tony echoed AJ's sentiments and holds a strong trust that his son is in good hands at Washington.
“It's a beautiful campus,” Tony said. “The education is fantastic and the facilities are probably the best in the country. So with the commitment the coaches were going to make to AJ, the work that he was going to get, and the facilities that he had the opportunity to use, we knew he was going to get better as a baseball player and everything felt like it was the right fit.”
While professional baseball can wait, Graffanino got his first taste of what life is going to be like as a pro this past summer. He played summer ball for the Cowlitz Bears of the West Coast League and got a strong dose of travel and spending a lot of time away from home.
“It hit me about two weeks into the season when we were on the road bussing places,” Graffanino recalled of his long travel days. “I was like 'Dang, this is really what I want, it's the real deal.' It is going to be tough, but this is what I want.”
His dad knows just how tough it is to make it as a pro. Tony experienced the ups and downs of the life. He knows that the percentages are against his son of ever making it to the big leagues. But, he also knows that his son is up to the challenge and that he has the right mindset to follow in his footsteps.
“I think that he loves the game,” Tony said. “It's not a job or a chore for him. He loves to win which to me is exciting. I know a lot of guys like to play and like to do well, and don't get me wrong AJ does like to do well, but he loves to win. So, he's a competitor.”
Tony understands that his son will need that competitor mentality moving forward if he's going to fulfill his dreams.
“His dream was always to be a big leaguer. And I think him being around not only pro ball but also big league baseball has made him want that even more. I don't think he gets the percentages and how hard it's going to be, but he really thinks it's a possibility because he saw me do it. So that's all he's really ever wanted.”
AJ has always wanted to be like his dad and is well on his way to following in his father's footsteps. But first, he has a college career ahead of himself. He has a chance to carve out his own path and develop his own identity. No matter what happens in the future or how AJ's career turns out, you can bet he will always have a proud dad behind him every step of the way.
