KC Royals: Danny Duffy One of Few Bright Spots This Season
The 2016 season hasn’t gone according to plan for the KC Royals, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some bright spots for the boys in blue.
That bright spot has been Danny Duffy, who began the season in the bullpen.
It seemed like yet another failed starter would be dominating out of the bullpen (Luke Hochevar, Wade Davis, etc.), but Duffy has made anyone who doubted him feel silly this year.
Duffy was moved to the starting rotation in mid May due to injuries to Kris Medlen and Chris Young. Once on a pitch count, Duffy proved that he had found his command and returned to his 2014 self. In fact, Duffy has been the best he ever has been.
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Duffy has a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts and 31 games total. He has a record of 7-1 and has pretty much been the only reliable guy in the Royals’ rotation this season.
You’re probably wondering how it’s this far into the article and I’ve failed to mention the best Duffy game ever. Well, here it is.
On Monday, Duffy flat-out dominated against the Tampa Bay Rays. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and ended up only allowing one hit all night. He walked one batter and struck out a whopping 16 batters, a new Royals record.
Simply put – Duffy crushed it on Monday. He showed potential ace material and he showed it at a time when the Royals needed a hero. Duffy was that guy and if he can be that good down the stretch, then there is hope for this rotation next season.
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Imagine if Yordano Ventura can settle in and figure everything out and then Duffy continues to pitch at this level. The 2017 season (and beyond) would be magical for the one and two pitchers in the rotation.
Monday’s performance was the kind of performance the KC Royals were hoping to get from Duffy over the years. He’s now shown he can be “the guy” in Kansas City, and the team needs to consider offering him an extension before he hits free agency in 2017.
Duffy has always been a fan favorite for Kansas City Royals fans, as he once proclaimed “Bury me a Royal” on social media. That proclamation was said back in 2012, a year before the Royals posted their first winning season in ten years, and during a time when not many players wanted to be “Forever Royal”.
Next: Top 15 Royals Pitchers in Wins
In a season full of disappointments and injuries, Danny Duffy has been the one shining star for the Kansas City Royals in 2016. He’s pitched magnificently since joining the rotation and him originally being excluded from the rotation now seems to be an afterthought and will never be a thought again.
Hopefully Duffman can keep this up next season and beyond because if so, watch out rest of MLB. The Royals will be back and better than ever!