Get to Know: AJ Gracia

February 1, 2023
TJ Hunt
Director, PBR New Jersey

As the new year has come and gone, it's time to delve into the annual "Get to Know" segment. Each year prior to the season, we interview several of the state's top ranked seniors to get a look at the behind the scenes preparation for the spring. To keep us going, we sit down with Duke commit, OF/LHP AJ Gracia.

Get to Know: AJ Gracia

Tell us about the decision-making process for your commitment? How excited are you to play there?
I'm super excited to get to Duke. The coaches have always treated me like one of their own throughout my HS career and the area of Durham is great.

If you were a baseball scout and just watched yourself play, what would that scouting report look like?

As a hitter I have pop to all fields and normally hit for high average. I am a skilled baserunner even though I don’t have the top speed at some of the other outfielders. On the mound I can throw 3-4 pitches for a strike and also field my position well.

We are knee-deep into the off-season schedule. Tell us about your training, and spring preparation.

I do tons of machine work to get ready to see live pitching come the spring. Before machine work I like to do bat path and bat speed. I’ve been developing my CB a lot this off-season on the mound to add a 4th pitch and also am working on gaining velocity. Lastly, I have been working on gaining weight to add strength and also work on my speed as I gain weight to stay athletic as possible.

Name three goals for the upcoming season.

1) Win state title
2) win shore conference tourney
3) improve on the mound compared to last years stats

Do you have any pregame superstitions?

Not really. I just try to keep my preparation as consistent as possible before games (stretching, warm up, hitting, etc).

Who is the best player you have played against in your high school career so far? What makes that player so good?

Zack Crotchfelt. Facing him as a hitter in lefty lefty was very tough. Never really felt comfortable against him because of his arm angle and run on fastball. All his pitches look like they came from behind my head so no pitch was easy to hit. Not to mention he was 95.

Who would you say your baseball role model is? Why?

I don’t have 1 role model but I rather try to model parts of MLB players games. Christian Yelich is someone I look at for hitting because we have similar body types and he is also a lefty outfielder. For pitching I like to look at Nestor Cortes not really for his funky windups but more for how he can spot up any pitch he wants even though he doesn’t have the top end velo like many guys in the MLB do.

OTHER GET TO KNOW'S

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Super 60 Pro Showcase	NATIONAL	02/05	The MAX - McCook, IL
2023 Northeast ProCase (Invite Only)	NJ	02/12	The Liberty Arena / Williamsport, PA
Central New Jersey Preseason ID	NJ	02/20	Iron Peak Sports - Hillsborough, NJ
2023 NJ Preseason All-State: Upperclass (Invite-Only)	NJ	03/04	Top Corner Sports - Bridgewater, NJ
2023 NJ Preseason All State: Underclass (Invite-Only)	NJ	03/11	Sportika - Manalapan, NJ
Northern New Jersey Preseason ID	NJ	03/12	Sports Domain Academy - Clifton, NJ
2023 NJ Rising Stars ID (2027 Grads)	NJ	03/19	Sports Domain Academy (Clifton, NJ)

Get to Know: AJ Gracia

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UPCOMING EVENTS