DUFFY DONE AT BURLINGTON
DANNY DUFFY will pitch no more this summer but he will be honored in Kansas City.
That is the news today from the Kansas City Royals after a week of contradictory signals and a missed turn on the mound for the star left handed pitcher from Lompoc.
According to his father, Dan Sr., Duffy has reached the maximum number of innings the Royals feel is safe for a pitcher his age, and thus are giving him a rest. At the same time his sparkling 8-4 record, 2.20 ERA and whopping strikeout total of 102 have led the Royals to name him Burlington’s Pitcher of the Year.’
“As we understand it from the Royals Director of Minor League operations J.J. Picollo, Danny has reached his target innings that the club hoped for with 80-plus innings at Burlington and 30-40 innings at extended Spring Training. That puts him at the 110-120 innings that they planned on and the decision has been made to shut him down for the remainder of the season. Danny will remain with the club and in uniform but will not pitch in the playoffs,” said Duffy Sr.
In Burlington, Iowa with the Burlington Bees of the Class-A Midwest League Duffy last pitched on August 18 when in five innings he gave up none (zero) earned runs. The performance capped a 10-game streak in which he went 5-1 and posted a tiny earned run average of 1.14.
At first there was no explanation as to why Duffy did not pitch in his regular turn on August 23, then there was a report that he had a muscle pull in his shoulder but that he would return to pitch tonight. Officially he is listed on the 7-day Disabled List.
Duffy’s season placed him in the top echelon of pitchers at the A-ball level despite his tender age of 19. It was that tender age which dictated the premature end of his season. Studies of young pitchers indicate that 150 or 200 innings at Duffy’s age could damage his arm.
The pitcher was disappointed but resigned to the decision his father said. “I think Danny wants to pitch in the playoffs but understands the teams ‘big picture’ thinking. He will come home as soon as the season ends and has been invited back to Instructional League in late September or early October.”
Duffy also called attention to the Kansas City announcement today honoring his son. “Danny was named Burlington's Pitcher of the Year and will be going to Kansas City for the presentation of the award at Kaufman Stadium on Friday Sept.19 at what they call Futures Night.
“Apparently they will have all the award winners up on the entrance to the concourse for an autograph session for the fans and then will present their awards in a pregame ceremony on the field. It will be a good ending to a solid year.”
Duffy will be one of 16 Royals minor leaguers to be honored. He was the club’s third-round draft choice in June 2007. He spent 2007 in Surprise, Arizona with the Surprise Royals in the Arizona Rookie League.
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