Danny Duffy joined the Kansas City organization as a third-round selection in 2007, a high-ceiling left-hander who would become one of the most beloved figures of the modern era. After making his debut in 2011 and overcoming Tommy John surgery early in his career, he evolved into a foundational piece of the rotation.
In 2014, he moved into the rotation full-time and posted a career-best 2.53 ERA, setting the stage for the team’s historic postseason run. During the 2015 championship season, he demonstrated a specialized resilience by transitioning to a relief role late in the year. He showed the organization he was a foundational winner by tossing high-leverage innings in the ALDS, ALCS, and World Series, helping Kansas City secure its first title in 30 years.
In 2016, he evolved into a true staff ace, recording a career-high 12-3 record and a franchise-record 16 strikeouts in a single game against Tampa Bay. He showed the organization that he was a foundational star by recording 188 strikeouts and earning the first of back-to-back Opening Day starts in 2017. He possessed a rare, durable quality that saw him pitch at an elite level for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, helping secure a gold medal. Despite recurring shoulder issues that surfaced in 2018 and 2019, he remained the emotional heartbeat of the rotation, famously declaring "Bury me a Royal" to signal his lifelong commitment to the organization.
In July 2021, Duffy was traded to the Dodgers, an exit motivated by the Royals’ desire to give the veteran a chance at another ring while acquiring a player to be named later. A flexor strain prevented him from ever making an appearance for Los Angeles. With K.C., Duffy compiled a 68-68 record, 1,048 strikeouts, and the 2015 World Series title.
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