New York Yankees Minor leagues Graman was drafted in the third round (111th overall) of the
1999 Major League Baseball draft by the
New York Yankees. Graman spent six seasons in the
New York Yankees system; 1999 with the
Staten Island Yankees, where he went 6-3 and was named the Top Prospect in the
New York–Penn League. In 2000, he was with the
Tampa Yankees of the
Florida State League, compiled a record of 8-9 and was promoted to Double-A with the
Norwich Navigators of the
Eastern League. he spent 2001 and part of 2002 with the Navigators as he went 17-11 and earned another promotion to Triple-A with the
Columbus Clippers of the
International League in 2002. He spent the next four seasons (2002–2005) in Columbus, going 31–31, and New York. In 2004, he led the
International League in strikeouts (129) and was selected as an
All-Star for the Clippers.
Major leagues Graman made his MLB debut with the Yankees in , after six seasons in the Yankee
farm system. In his first start against the
Chicago White Sox, he gave up five
runs in innings pitched. In his next start against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he only lasted a third of an inning, giving up five
earned runs, but avoided a
loss in both appearances. He was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Columbus after the game. Graman finished the year with a 19.80
ERA. In , he fared only slightly better, giving up 2 earned runs in one and a third innings before being designated for assignment by the Yankees and later released. In five Major League games, all with the Yankees, he has pitched in innings and given up 17
hits and 13 runs all earned for an ERA of 18.47.
Cincinnati Reds On August 10, 2005, Graman signed with the
Cincinnati Reds. He pitched in five games for their Triple-A affiliate, the
Louisville Bats, but despite having a 3.09 ERA, Graman was released on September 12.
Seibu Lions / Saitama Seibu Lions On January 15, 2006, Graman signed a one-year, 50 million yen (about US$467,000) contract with the
Seibu Lions of
Nippon Professional Baseball. Graman re-signed with the Lions after the season. Beginning in , he replaced
Chikara Onodera as the closer. Graman came into his own as a closer, finishing with a 3–3 record, 31
saves, and a 1.42 ERA. He helped the Lions win the
Pacific League championship and the Climax Series before saving Games 1 and 7 of the
Japan Series as Seibu beat the
Yomiuri Giants 4 games to 3. Graman tossed the final two innings of Game 7, allowing no hits or
walks while
striking out two. He finished the postseason by allowing two earned runs in five innings, but did not allow a run in three Japan Series frames. Opening day 2009 found Alex with the defending champions, the
Saitama Seibu Lions for his fourth season in the Japanese
Pacific League. Graman's development as a pitcher while in Japan, led many in baseball to believe he would return to the Major Leagues as a set-up man or long reliever. On January 16, 2012, Graman signed a contract with a bonus of $50,000 with
Kia Tigers of the
KBO League. However, he failed the medical test and the pitching workout. Tigers decided not to sign Graman on February 5. ==Coaching career==