Duke freshman slugger AJ Gracia shatters school record for most home runs in first season

Duke baseball has a new freshman home run king. AJ Gracia blasted his 12th long ball of the season on Saturday against Georgia Tech, giving him the most by a freshman in Duke baseball history. Here’s the record-setting blast.

There is a new Duke Freshman Home Run King.

AJ Gracia’s 12 home runs are the most by a Duke freshman in program history. pic.twitter.com/cvu3tqIUAv

— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) May 11, 2024

The Blue Devils baseball Twitter account made a special graphic to commemorate the occasion.

He is him 👑😈💣 https://t.co/Xy7sTPwsQ4 pic.twitter.com/DIru9KaQVb

— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) May 11, 2024

Gracia passed Andrew Fischer (2023) who drilled 11 home runs last year. Gracia finished the day going 3-for-4 at the plate with four runs, two RBIs, and two walks.

With the Blue Devils up 12-10 in the top of the ninth inning, Gracia launched the two-run shot to make the score 14-10, putting the nail in the coffin for Georgia Tech. That would be the final as Duke closed the game out for the 14-10 victory.

With the win, Duke moved to 34-15 and 14-11 in the ACC. They’re looking like a team that will certainly be tough to beat in the upcoming 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Georgia Tech fell to 29-19 overall and 13-13 in the ACC.

Slugger Alex Stone had a spectacular day at the plate for Duke. He finished with two hits, two runs, and four RBIs in six at bats. Stone blasted a three-run home run to right center field in the top of the fifth inning. Blue Devils’ Logan Bravo also nailed a solo shot to right center field in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 10-8. He finished with two homers on the day and currently leads the team with 14 home runs. It marked Bravo’s second four-hit day of the 2024 campaign.

Duke’s Charlie Beilenson tallied his 11th save of the year, getting closer to James Tallon’s single-season record of 12. Beilenson worked the final two innings of the game, striking out five of the six batters he went up against.

Gracia earned first team freshman midseason All-American honors from Perfect Game this year. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school and has lived up to his lofty billing. Gracia was ranked as the No. 1 outfielder in the state of New Jersey and the No. 5 overall prospect in the state. He played his high school baseball for Ranney (Tinton Falls, New Jersey).

He earned All-State honors twice in New Jersey, also bringing home NJ Player of the Year honors from NJ.com.