Danny Graves

Daniel Peter Graves (born August 7, 1973, in Saigon, South Vietnam) is a relief pitcher currently playing for the New York Mets franchise in Major League Baseball. Born to an American serviceman father and a Vietnamese mother, he is the first Vietnam-born player in the major leagues.

Biography

Graves' family moved to the U.S. when he was fourteen months old. He graduated from Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida before being awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Miami. As a right-handed relief pitcher for the school as a junior, he posted a 0.89 earned run average and led collegiate baseball with a school-record 21 saves.

Related Topics:
Brandon, Florida - University of Miami - Earned run average - Saves

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In 1994, Graves was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round of the amateur MLB draft. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in July 1997.

Related Topics:
1994 - Cleveland Indians - Cincinnati Reds - 1997

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In his first nine seasons with Cleveland and Cincinnati, Graves compiled a 40-42 record as a pitcher with 406 strikeouts, a 3.89 ERA, and 172 saves in 755.2 innings.

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On May 23, 2005, Graves was released by Cincinnati after an admittedly poor start to the season and after making an obscene gesture to a heckler who reportedly yelled racial slurs at him. He subsequently was signed as a free agent by the New York Mets on June 11, 2005.

Related Topics:
May 23 - 2005 - New York Mets - June 11 - 2005

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After putting up a 5.89 ERA with the Mets, he was designated for assignment on August 23, 2005. He cleared waivers and was sent to AAA Norfolk on August 26, but was called back up to the Mets when rosters expanded. Graves was 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA in five games with Norfolk http://www.accessnorthga.com/sports/newfullstory.asp?ID=95865.

Related Topics:
August 23 - 2005 - Norfolk - August 26

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