On The Clock: AJ Gracia Joins the Show

After two standout years at Duke, outfielder AJ Gracia is stepping into a new chapter, this time donning the orange and blue for the Virginia Cavaliers.

One of the top prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft, Gracia joined On The Clock to talk about his journey from New Jersey to the ACC spotlight, his development as a hitter, and how he’s embracing leadership in Charlottesville.

“It almost feels like I’m a freshman again,” Gracia said about his transition to Virginia. “It’s a new campus, new colors, new people, but the same coaching staff and same process day in and day out. I’ve loved it so far.”

That familiarity comes from head coach Chris Pollard, who made the move from Duke to Virginia over the offseason. For Gracia, following the staff that helped shape him into an elite college hitter was a no-brainer.

“Coach Pollard’s always had my back,” he said. “He’s one of those guys you’d run through a wall for. More than just a coach, he’s a really good person, and that means a lot.”

Gracia’s career has already been a story of adaptation and perseverance. His freshman year at Duke was electric, but his sophomore campaign started rocky, batting under .200 at midseason before exploding down the stretch.

“After my freshman year, I had a plan for what I wanted to fix, but in hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best one,” Gracia reflected. “Once I realized it wasn’t working, I just went back to what I knew. It took some time, but once I got over that struggle, I kind of just took off.”

Scouts noticed. Despite early-season struggles, his plate discipline – “super, super disciplined,” as he described it – never wavered. His ability to control at-bats and adjust midseason turned Duke’s year around, bringing the Blue Devils within a game of Omaha.

Now at Virginia, Gracia is focused less on stats and more on soaking in his potential final year of college baseball.

“I just want to enjoy it,” he said. “It moves so fast. I remember moving into college like it was a month ago. I just want to slow everything down, be consistent, and hopefully make it to Omaha. That’d be the perfect way to end it.”

As for what keeps him grounded through the grind of the college season, his answer mirrors his coach’s mantra:

“Being the same guy every day. Whether you go 4-for-4 or strike out three times, show up the same. Pour into your teammates and stay steady.”

That mindset — steady, disciplined, and humble — has carried AJ Gracia this far. With a fresh start in Virginia, elite hitting instincts, and leadership maturity beyond his years, he’s not just one of the ACC’s most exciting players to watch, he’s one of the names to know for the 2026 college baseball season and the 2026 MLB Draft.