Danny Duffy Fans Gather to Watch World Series Finale

Game Seven of the World Series Wednesday night did not go the way Danny Duffy fans had wanted, but they still gathered at the home of his Cabrillo High School baseball coach Jonathan Osborne to watch the big game on television.

Although Duffy did not make an appearance in Game 7 as a bullpen pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, his presence on baseball’s biggest stage was more than enough for his fans at home to support the former Cabrillo High School star who’s remained loyal to his school and its baseball program.

“He has come back and worked at baseball camps, he’s come back and worked with our kids”, says Coach Osborne, “he’s donated lots of things for our program, he’s donated lots of things for Cabrillo athletics, his family is a great family and he’s a great kid.”

The San Francisco Giants beat the Royals 3-2 in Game 7 to clinch their third MLB World Championship in five years.

After the game it was revealed Duffy suffered a stress reaction in his ribcage in his last regular season start which kept him out of the starting rotation for the World Series.

Duffy has had his share of adversity in his professional baseball career.

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.

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.

Duffy was a major part of the Royals success in 2014, finishing the season with a 2.53 ERA in 31 games (25 starts) and 149 1/3 innings.

His fans at his former high school coach’s home were upbeat about Duffy’s success despite the Royals loss in Game 7 of the World Series.

“It’s very exciting to happen”, Osborne says, “his family is a great family, he does a lot of things at Cabrillo High School for us, Danny has done a lot of great things for Cabrillo.”