Danny Duffy in the World Series
Central Coast native Danny Duffy is living his childhood dream. The Cabrillo alum, who pitches for the Kansas City Royals, is currently playing in the World Series. It’s an accomplishment few baseball players get to experience, but the lefthander from the Lompoc Valley has made it to baseball’s ultimate stage in just his fourth Major League season.
“This is what you think about when you’re out in your backyard with your parents, two years old, three years old, said Duffy, in the Royals locker room after Game 4. “I’ve been talking about it since I could talk, so it’s been a lot of fun and I’m really happy and lucky to have this opportunity to do what we’re doing right now.”
Duffy is getting the opportunity to play in the Fall Classic with his parents in the stands for every game, both in Kansas City and San Francisco. In fact, his parents, Dan and Deanna Duffy, have attended nearly all of the Royals playoffs games over the past several weeks.
“I never, ever really thought this day would come, but I believed in him and I believed in the team and it’s amazing to actually see him set foot out there,” said Deanna Duffy.
His father, Dan, just recently retired from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says his son always wanted to be a professional baseball player ever since his start in Lompoc Little League nearly 20 years ago.
“He just had this dream and this goal and he wanted to play professionally and obviously the World Series was the ultimate and here he is now,” said Dan Duffy.
Duffy’s journey from the Central Coast to the World Series has been anything but a smooth ride. After being drafted in the 3 rd Round (96 th overall) by the Royals on the day he graduated from Cabrillo High School in 2007, Duffy was widely seen as one of the top prospects in professional baseball. He quickly rose through the Royals minor league system, but abruptly walked away from the game in the spring of 2010. Just two months later, he returned and once again reestablished himself as a top pitching prospect. In May 2011, he made his Major League debut in the first of 20 appearances in his rookie season.
On Mother’s Day 2012, Duffy suffered an elbow injury in his pitching arm during a start versus the Chicago White Sox. The injury resulted in Tommy John surgery, which forced Duffy to miss more than a year of action. In August 2013, he returned to the Royals and started 5 games before he was shutdown for the season.
In 2014, Duffy was expected to earn a spot in the Royals starting rotation, but struggled during Spring Training and was sent down to Triple-A Omaha to start the regular season. After just a couple of weeks in the minors, he was recalled by the Royals and was sent to pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. However, an injury to Bruce Chen in early May allowed Duffy to move back into the starting rotation. Over the next several months, he turned in his finest Major League season, establishing career highs in several categories, including starts, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. However, during his first appearance in Yankee Stadium in early September, Duffy left with an injury after throwing only one pitch. He was diagnosed with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, which caused him to miss two weeks. He returned back to the lineup and made two starts before the end of the regular season.
After struggling in his final start, Duffy was put back into the bullpen for the Royals, who qualified for the team’s first postseason since 1985. Duffy made just one appearance in the American League Divisional Series, but earned the win in the Royals Game 1 victory over the Angels. Duffy did not play in the American League Championship Series against Baltimore, but finally returned to action in Game 1 of the World Series versus San Francisco. Pitching at home, Duffy pitched 3 innings in relief of starter James Shields, allowing 2 runs while striking out 3 batters. Four days later in San Francisco, he pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing a run on a sacrifice fly.
His mom says that through all the trials and tribulations, he has shown an inner strength that can be used an inspirations to others. “From the minors, the grind of the minors to his elbow surgery to leaving baseball, coming back to baseball and making it to this level is incredible.”
Dan Duffy is also proud of what his son has been able to accomplish through all the setbacks. “He’s fought through question marks, with the Tommy John surgery, the break from baseball, some other minor injuries, some hiccups, not making the team out of spring training this year,” said Dan Duffy. “I just honestly believe that which doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger and I think he’s had a resolve to be better and to help this team win.”
While he pitches halfway across the country, Danny Duffy has always made it known where his heart is. “The whole Central Coast, he is loyal to Cabrillo, he loves the Lompoc Valley, he knows where he came from, he remembers where came from, he’ll never forget where he came from and he’s appreciative of all the people along the way that have influenced him,” said Dan Duffy.
With his team just two wins away from a World Series title, Danny Duffy is enjoying every minute of this amazing experience. “It’s been a lot of fun, this team is doing what we knew we were capable of doing, even when we were back in Double-A. When you get on a roll, obviously Double-A is not the big leagues, it’s not the World Series, but when you get on a roll and you’re confident in what you can do, good things happen.”
Danny adds the grind of the World Series is unlike anything he’s ever experienced. “A lot of emotions, a lot of energy is being used on these games. I’ve never personally been to the postseason, but this it just a beautiful thing, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Danny, along with his family and friends are hoping the fun continues with two more wins and a World Series trophy. While there may be more Giants fans on the Central Coast than Royals fans, should Duffy win the championship, it would be something everyone in the area could celebrate.
