The odd reason Duke baseball’s AJ Gracia suspended for NCAA Super Regional game

As Duke celebrated its Athens Regional title in the NCAA baseball tournament Sunday night, the realization — and reason — why it won’t have a key player in its next game dampened the mood.

After Duke beat Oklahoma State, 3-2, at Foley Field, Blue Devils coach Chris Pollard acknowledged his frustration with an ejection of star player AJ Gracia. Since the ejection carries a one-game suspension for the next game, the sophomore will not be available to play in the first game of the super regional this weekend.

Gracia usually bats second in the Duke lineup, and has 14 home runs, 53 RBI and a .295 batting average this season. His solo home run ignited the Blue Devils’ three-run rally that led to the win over Oklahoma State.

“This rule and this type of action by the umpire is why people get so frustrated with the NCAA,” Pollard said in the post-game news conference. “I’m disappointed for AJ Gracia that he won’t play in one of the biggest games of his life when we start the Super Regional. I’m disappointed for Duke baseball, and I’m just disappointed for college baseball.”

Down two runs in the eighth inning, Gracia cranked a solo home run to left center field to kickstart the Blue Devil comeback. In celebration, he traded his batting helmet for a white construction helmet decorated with Duke insignia.

“It’s a symbol of our blue collar culture, and it’s something that we rally around,” Pollard said. It gets our guys excited and creates energy.”

Four batters later, Sam Harris nailed a two-run single to give the Blue Devils the lead — and eventually the win. Wearing the hard hat, Gracia stepped outside of the dugout to celebrate with his teammates.

Gracia was promptly thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Tim Cordill for bringing the prop onto the field.

“He took two steps out of our dugout not to show anybody up, not to be disrespectful of the game, not to disrespect Oklahoma State,” Pollard said. “[But] to cheer on his teammates and give them high-fives.”

Duke athletic director Nina King said she supports Pollard’s statement. Duke has appealed the suspension.

“We deserve better than that,” Pollard said. “AJ Gracia deserves better than that. Our sport deserves better than that.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM.