Tyler Blinn Duffey (born December 27, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals.

Tyler Duffey
Duffey with the Twins in 2015
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1990-12-27) December 27, 1990 (age 33)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 5, 2015, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through May 20, 2024)
Win–loss record30–27
Earned run average4.57
Strikeouts479
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Amateur career

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Duffey attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas.[1] He then enrolled at Rice University to play college baseball for the Rice Owls baseball team. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Conference USA baseball tournament. After the 2011 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2] In May 2012, he was named the Conference USA pitcher of the week.[3]

Professional career

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Minnesota Twins

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Minor leagues

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The Minnesota Twins selected Duffey in the fifth round, with the 160th overall selection, of the 2012 MLB draft.[4][5][6][7] He signed with the Twins[8] and pitched for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2013,[9] before receiving a promotion to the Fort Myers Miracle of the High–A Florida State League. He began the 2014 season with Fort Myers, and was promoted to the New Britain Rock Cats of the Double–A Eastern League, and then the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple–A International League.

The Twins invited Duffey to spring training as a non-roster player for 2015.[10] He opened the season with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double–A Southern League,[11] and was promoted to Rochester in May.[12][13]

Major leagues

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With Tommy Milone going on the disabled list, the Twins promoted Duffey to the major leagues to make his major league debut on August 5, 2015.[14] Duffey finished the season with a 5–1 record in 10 starts for the Twins and poising himself for a rotation spot in 2016.[citation needed] After starting the season in Triple–A due to a logjam in the rotation, Duffey was called up on April 24. Duffey recorded his first major league hit, a sacrifice bunt, that same day in National League play against the Washington Nationals.[15]

On June 26, 2016, Duffey took a perfect game through 5.2 innings until it was broken up by Aaron Hicks. The Twins would still win 7–1 over the Yankees.[16] Despite his 6.43 ERA, Duffey finished the season in the rotation, leading the team in wins as he went 9–12 in 26 starts.

In 2017, Duffey was moved to the bullpen and became exclusively a relief pitcher. He appeared in 56 games and amassed a record of 2–3 with a 4.94 ERA. He made the Twins' roster in 2018 in the same role. He was sent down multiple times throughout the season to Triple–A, having appeared only in 19 games for the Twins. Duffey was converted into a reliever for the 2019 season and excelled in the role, registering an ERA of 2.50 in 58 games.

With the 2020 Minnesota Twins, Duffey appeared in 22 games, compiling a 1–1 record with 1.88 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24.0 innings pitched.[17]

On May 20, 2021, Duffey was suspended two games after throwing at Chicago White Sox catcher Yermín Mercedes in a game on May 18.[18] He made 64 total appearances for Minnesota in 2021, registering a 3.18 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 3 saves in 62+13 innings pitched.

Duffey made 40 appearances out of the bullpen for Minnesota in 2022, logging a 4.91 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 2 saves in 44.0 innings of work. On August 5, 2022, Duffey was designated for assignment by the Twins.[19] He was released by the Twins organization on August 7.[20]

Texas Rangers

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On August 12, 2022, Duffey signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization.[21] He made 4 scoreless appearances for the Triple–A Round Rock Express and struck out five in five innings pitched. On August 28, Duffey opted out of his contract and became a free agent.[22]

New York Yankees

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On August 30, 2022, Duffey signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.[23] He made seven appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, struggling to a 10.50 ERA and 1–1 record with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[24]

Chicago Cubs

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On January 27, 2023, Duffey signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.[25] He made 18 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, posting a 4-0 record and 4.43 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 22+13 innings pitched. On June 1, Duffey exercised the opt-out clause in his contract, giving the Cubs 48 hours to add him to their 40-man roster or grant him his release.[26] The Cubs declined to add Duffey to their roster, and he was formally released on June 3.[27] He re-signed with the Cubs on a new minor league contract on June 16.[28] After posting a 3.77 ERA in 36 appearances for Iowa, the Cubs selected Duffey's contract to the major league roster on October 1.[29] He became a free agent following the season.

Kansas City Royals

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On December 7, 2023, Duffey signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[30] He began the 2024 season with the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, logging a 3.24 ERA across 6 games. On April 22, 2024, the Royals selected Duffey's to the major league roster.[31] In 9 games for Kansas City, Duffey compiled a 5.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 9 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by the team on May 24.[32] Duffey cleared waivers and was sent outright to Omaha on May 29.[33] He was released by the Royals organization on August 6.[34]

Personal life

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Duffey's mother, Shanna, died in 2012 after complications from breast cancer led to a blood clot.[9]

Duffey married his high school sweetheart, Sarah Hutchins, on December 19, 2015, and they had their first child, a son, in 2020.[35]

On March 6, 2024, Duffey announced that he had recently undergone surgery to remove a cancerous mole from his left shoulder.[36]

References

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  1. ^ "The Bellaire Buzz » SportzBuzz – July 2009". bellairebuzz.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "#12 Tyler Duffey". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Dominant performance earns Rice's Duffey C-USA honor". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "Twins select pair of Rice relief pitchers in MLB draft". Sports Update. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "BASEBALL: Bellaire's Duffey to Twins in fifth round of MLB Draft". Your Houston News. June 5, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  6. ^ John Royal (June 8, 2012). "Tyler Duffey, J.T. Chargois: The Minnesota Twins Hope the Rice Owls Can Save Them". Houston News. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "Twins select a second pitcher from Rice University". startribune.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  8. ^ "Twins reach agreement with Buxton, other picks". startribune.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Johnson, Jeff (March 7, 2013). "Mom would've been proud of Duffey's performance". Cedar Rapids Gazette. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  10. ^ Fox Sports (December 19, 2014). "Byron Buxton among invites to Minnesota Twins spring training". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  11. ^ "Twins' RHP Tyler Duffey Expected To Open Season With Lookouts". chattanoogan.com. March 20, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  12. ^ Oklobzija, Kevin (May 21, 2015). "Does Duffey callup mean something's up with Alex Meyer?". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  13. ^ "Minnesota Twins prospect Tyler Duffey hurls first complete-game shutout for Rochester Red Wings – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "Twins place Milone on DL, call up Duffey to start Wednesday". Star Tribune. August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  15. ^ "MLB Baseball Play by Play – Twins vs. Nationals – Apr 24, 2016". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  16. ^ Hoch, Bryan; Park, Do-Hyoung. "Duffey flirts with perfection, Twins hit 6 homers to beat Yanks". MLB. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  17. ^ "Tyler Duffey Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  18. ^ "MLB Suspends Twins Tyler Duffey, Rocco Baldelli". May 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "'As tough as it gets': Twins DFA Duffey amid tough season". mlb.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "Longtime Minnesota Twins Pitcher Released". si.com. August 8, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "Rangers signing former Twins pitcher Tyler Duffey to minor league deal". dallasnews.com. August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "Tyler Duffey To Opt Out Of Rangers Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. August 28, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Yankees signing Tyler Duffey to add another potential bullpen option". nypost.com. August 31, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. November 13, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Cubs' Tyler Duffey: Gets NRI deal from Cubs". cbssports. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  26. ^ "Cubs' Tyler Duffey: Hits open market". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  27. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  28. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com.
  29. ^ "Breaking: Cubs make eight roster moves including Nico Hoerner to IL". cubshq.com. October 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "Royals' Tyler Duffey: Heads to Royals on MiLB deal". cbssports.com. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  31. ^ "Royals Select Tyler Duffey". mlbteaderumors.com. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  32. ^ "Royals Designate Tyler Duffey For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  33. ^ "Royals Outright Tyler Duffey". mlbtraderumors.com. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  34. ^ "Royals Release Tyler Duffey". mlbtraderumors.com. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  35. ^ "Players on having babies during COVID pandemic". MLB.com.
  36. ^ "Royals reliever's melanoma diagnosis hits close to home". mlb.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
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