Kansas City Royals: What Went Right in 2016
Duffy becoming a solid ace
Danny Duffy has had an up and down career during his time in the major leagues. He’s bounced back and forth between being a starter and being a reliever, and has been super inconsistent on the mound during his career.
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In 2012, Duffy proclaimed “Bury me a Royal” during a time in which no one else would have said that. Remember those days? Really wasn’t that long ago honestly, but feels like a lifetime ago.
Anyway, Duffy began the 2016 season in the bullpen. He was later pushed into the starting rotation due to several key injuries, and Duffy never looked back.
He only went on to have one of the best seasons a starter has ever had for the KC Royals, including a 16 strikeout performance against the Rays.
That performance broke the former record held by Zack Greinke (15 strikeouts) and Duffy had carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in that game.
Duffy coming into his own was a beautiful sight to see. If he and Yordano Ventura can get on the same page in 2017, then this rotation could have a legit “one-two punch”, something that they haven’t had in awhile.
Duffy didn’t end the season nearly as solid as we had hoped, but he still finished 2016 out with a 3.51 ERA and broke multiple career records, including innings pitched with 179.2 and strikeouts with 188. He also had a 12-3 record in 26 starts.
Duffman has arrived, ladies and gentlemen.