Tony Graffanino may be best known in Red Sox history for making a Bill Buckner-esque error in Game 2 of the 2005 ALDS against the Chicago White Sox, essentially costing the Sox the game. Boston went on to lose the series in three games to the eventual World Series Champion White Sox. Rather than being villified, Graffanino has essentially been forgotten. But whatever happened to him?
Graffanino was traded to the Red Sox in July 2005 from the Kansas City Royals, where he had spent the previous two seasons. He was drafted in 1990 by the Braves, for whom he made his Major League debut in 1996, and 
was shuttled to the Devil Rays and White Sox before landing in Kansas City. Graffanino was brought over to replace Mark Bellhorn, who had struck out a whopping 109 times in just 283 at-bats over 85 games. Bellhorn then broke his finger, conveniently giving the Red Sox an excuse to release him.
Graffanino hit .319 in the 51 games he played for the Sox en route to a career-best .309 for the season. Game 2 of the ALDS notwithstanding, he was steady with the glove as well, posting a .987 fielding percentage, committing only three regular-season errors. Graffanino was sent back to the Royals for 2006 while the Red Sox acquired Mark Loretta to play second base, a similar but younger player with a higher career batting average.
Since Graffanino left the Red Sox at the end of the 2005 season, he’s had trouble finding a place to stay. He was returned to the Kansas City Royals to begin the 2006 season, where he hit only .268 in 69 games. The Royals couldn’t seem to decide where to place him: he played 16 games at first base, 10 at second, 27 at third base, and 9 at shorstop, and the rest at DH. At the trading deadline, he was shipped to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he played 57 games at his natural position, second base.
Graffanino remained with the Brewers throughout 2007, but got off to a slow start. His batting average remained under .200 until the end of May. He raised his average to a still-crummy .238 before tearing his ACL on August 8, ending his season. Graffanino was active off the field that winter, when he and his wife established the Tony Graffanino Foundation, which is a Christian organization partners with a pregnancy center and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The charity educates women throughout pregnancy and puts on sports clinics.
In 2008, Graffanino signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent, but never saw a day of major league action. He is with the Indians again this season, but it was announced at the end of March he would again begin the season in Triple-A along with former Sox Andy Marte. He is considered organizational depth and not expected to receive much playing time at the major league level, save for a major injury to a current starter.
Graffanino could get another chance in the big leagues should a team need a reliable utility infielder - Graffanino plays all four positions, plus left field - midway through the season. His attitude and work ethic would make him an appealing pickup for some team at the deadline if he should experience success in the minors this season.
Best of luck to the dirt dog who could have been.
