Tyler Duffey

[Chance]

Tyler Duffey was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Rice University. In college Duffey worked as a reliever and continued to do so pitching in Elizabethton at the end of the 2012 season. At Elizabethton, Duffey made 12 relief appearances. In those 12 appearances, he went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA. Duffey gave up 10 hits and 2 walks in 19 innings while striking out 27 batters.

 

Tyler has started this season in the Cedar Rapids rotation. In his first start of his professional career, the right-hander went 7 perfect innings and struck out 7. The Kernals bullpen finished out the game with a no-hitter. Duffey "struggled" more-so in his second start, allowing 3 runs over 5 and 2/3 innings.

 

At 6'3" and 225 pounds, Duffey has the size and ability to be a starter for the Twins moving forward. According to baseballdraftreport.com, Duffey has a five pitch mix including: an 88-92 FB, 94 peak; good 79-82 CU; good two-seamer with above-average sink; hard 78-83 CB; average mid-80s SL that flashes plus. Some other scouting reports feel that he will be a middle reliever, but at just 22 (he will be for the entire season) the Twins feel that he can make the transition to a starter with his 4-5 pitches.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd say as a college player, he's probably facing easier competition than what he faced in college, so I wouldn't put too much stock in those numbers. If his success continues, he'll be one of the first to get a bump this summer.

[Chance]

Very good point. We will have to wait and see but he isn't old for his level. He may be further developed but that should be a good thing. He should be a top 10 Twins prospect yet but should be closely monitored.

[Jim H]

I'd say as a college player, he's probably facing easier competition than what he faced in college, so I wouldn't put too much stock in those numbers. If his success continues, he'll be one of the first to get a bump this summer.

 

People say this a lot, but I don't agree with it. The average age at Elizabethan is probably older than the average age of a college team. On top of that, at least half the players in the Appalachian League are players drafted from colleges, largely the best college players each year. The rest of the players are high school draftees or international signees who have mostly been playing pro ball for at least a year. The few really young players in the Appalachian League are clearly superior talents.

 

The idea that even a top college conference is even close to the talent level found in the Appalachian League seems unlikely to me. Some of the players will be quite polished, 4 or 5 year college seniors, but most of them won't approach the talent found at Elizabethan. Elizabethan is where the Twins send their college draftees, and since even a very good college team is seldom filled with more than a handful of future pros, I can't see where college ball is better than even High Rookie ball.

[kab21]

I agree that ETown is probably better than college ball but early rd college draft picks should dominate there just the same as they dominated in college. Imo until a college draft pick puts up good numbers in AA he's doing what he should be doing against lower level competition.

 

It's encouraging that he has adjusted to starting though and hopefully he can move up at some point.

[Vervehound]

People say this a lot, but I don't agree with it. The average age at Elizabethan is probably older than the average age of a college team. On top of that, at least half the players in the Appalachian League are players drafted from colleges, largely the best college players each year. The rest of the players are high school draftees or international signees who have mostly been playing pro ball for at least a year. The few really young players in the Appalachian League are clearly superior talents.

 

The idea that even a top college conference is even close to the talent level found in the Appalachian League seems unlikely to me. Some of the players will be quite polished, 4 or 5 year college seniors, but most of them won't approach the talent found at Elizabethan. Elizabethan is where the Twins send their college draftees, and since even a very good college team is seldom filled with more than a handful of future pros, I can't see where college ball is better than even High Rookie ball.

college ball is often compared to low-a ball in terms of talent. that's a pretty big blanket statement and there is clearly a big gap between the big 10 and pac 10 but most of the players in premium leagues will play pro ball at some level or another. so if you see a guy like jonathan gray struggle, you have to remember he's up against some pretty good line-ups.

[Chance]

Duffey is currently through 4 innings in today's start for Cedar Rapids. He has been perfect thus far with 4 strikeouts.

[Chance]

And so much for the great start. After 4 perfect innings Duffey gave up a walk and then back to back doubles. He now has pitched 5 innings allowing 2 runs with 2 hits a walk and 4 strikeouts.

[Chance]

Duffey rebounded with another 1-2-3 inning in the 6th.

[Chance]

Duffey finished the day with a line of: 7 innings 4 hits 2 runs 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. He got the win. On the season Tyler is 2-1 with a 2.29 era. He has 17 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. He has a .66 whip.

[Chance]

Tyler Duffey finished 8 innings today. He gave up 3 runs on 8 hits striking out 4. He also didn't give up a walk which is very important for a young starter looking to move quickly through the system.

 

For the season Duffey is 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA. He has 21 strike outs to go with 3 walks. His WHIP is at a very nice .76.

[Chance]

Duffey pitched another 7 inning tonight. He gave up 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk. He struck out 5.

[Chance]

Duffey got the start on Saturday posted a line of: 7 innings 4 hits 1 run with no walks and 7 strikeouts. He induced 11 groundouts to just 1 fly ball out. 3 of the hits were on ground balls and 1 was a solo home run.

 

for the season:

W-L W-L% ERA G GS IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB

 

3-1 .750 2.38 6 6 41.2 29 11 11 3 4 0 33 1 0 0 158. 0.792 6.3 0.6 0.9 7.1 8.25

[Chance]

Tyler pitched another 7 2/3 innings on Friday. He gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and had 5 strikeouts. He didn't walk a batter.

 

Duffey has pitched 7 or more innings in 6 of his 7 starts and has only given up more than 2 earned runs once. He continues to raise his strikeout to walk ratio and has been very consistent with keeping his pitch count down to rake up over 49 innings over his 7 starts. It's been a great start to the year for him lets hope he keeps it going!

[Chance]

Here is a video of An interview with Duffey after his 7 perfect innings in his first start of the year. I think it's nice to hear the kid talk and kind of get a feel for him.

 

[Chance]

Duffey made his 8th start on Friday night and, for just the second time, failed to complete at least 7 innings. He pitched 5 innings giving up 5 runs. It marked the first game he has given up more than 3 runs.

 

The one positive from this start is that he can show how he responds to being hit around for an outing.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Does this kid throw hard or something? I ask b/c there's a lot of love for him, but his K rate has dropped pretty precipitously in his first year of pro ball. He's barely hitting 7 per 9 in Cedar Rapids, and that should drop quite a bit more as he moves up... I'm glad he's doing well, but he doesn't strike me as a great prospect.

[Mr. Brooks]

Does this kid throw hard or something? I ask b/c there's a lot of love for him, but his K rate has dropped pretty precipitously in his first year of pro ball. He's barely hitting 7 per 9 in Cedar Rapids, and that should drop quite a bit more as he moves up... I'm glad he's doing well, but he doesn't strike me as a great prospect.

 

He's not a great prospect.

I'd put him somewhere around #30'ish in the system for now.

He was a 5th round college reliever. The odds of him ever getting more than a cup of coffee in the big leagues is pretty slim.

[Chance]

In a rain interrupted game, Duffey pitched the first 4 innings. He gave up 5 hits no walks and had 5 strikeouts. He induced 5 ground outs and just 1 fly out. I would assume that he could have possibly finished all 7 innings had it not been for the rain delay.

[Chance]

Does this kid throw hard or something? I ask b/c there's a lot of love for him, but his K rate has dropped pretty precipitously in his first year of pro ball. He's barely hitting 7 per 9 in Cedar Rapids, and that should drop quite a bit more as he moves up... I'm glad he's doing well, but he doesn't strike me as a great prospect.

 

I have posted a scouting report on his pitch mix in the introduction at the top. He tops out at 94 but sits around 88-92. He relies on control to get outs. He's not a strikeout pitcher.

[Steven Buhr]

I wouldn't sweat Duffey's K rate too much at this point. He has shown he can find an extra mph or two when he needs it (3 of his 5 Ks last night were for 3rd outs with at least one runner on base in a 0-0 game). 4 of the 5 Ks were swinging, I believe, so he missed bats, not just fooling hitters or benefitting from generous strike zones.

[Chance]

Duffey will be making his first start for Ft. Myers tonight. It will be nice to see how he does against tougher competition.

[Chance]

Tylers first start for Ft. Myers was forgettable. It was not a terrible start, though. Had he retired one more batter to get through the 6th inning, it would have been a quality start (4 runs, 3 earned). Not terrible for a first start at a new level but definently not noteworthy. One encouraging sign was that he still attacked hitters and only walked one batter.

 

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[Chance]

In Duffey's last 2 starts he has pitched 11 1/3 innings giving up five runs in each start. He has kept the BB down with just 2 walks in those starts. He had also had 7 strikeouts. Duffey's problem is hits. With 21 hits over the 11 1/3 innings, Tyler is either getting a healthy does of bad luck and the balls are dropping or he is showing that he is leaving pitches up in the zone.

[Thegrin]

Duffy is really struggling with FtM.

Tyler Duffey Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights | Cedar Rapids Kernels Stats

Is he injured, or what ?

[diehardtwinsfan]

He was pretty underwhelming in Cedar Rapids. If I remember right, he was one of hte hard throwing college relievers that the Twins took in 2012. If he doesn't right the ship soon, I could see him returning to that role. Might have an easier shot at the majors.

[kab21]

Being this bad is bad luck but he also wasn't that good in Cedar Rapids. He had an okay K rate there as a college pitcher (more developed than the competition) and typically K rates drop as they move up. 3 starts don't mean anything but I think he moves back to the bullpen in a year. Same for Melatokis.

[Chance]

Over Duffey's last 2 starts he has regained some of his form from CR. He hasn't been spectacular by any means but he has made some improvements.

 

In his start on July 2nd, he pitched 7 innings. The good news: he gave up 4 hits and only 1 walk with no runs scored. The bad: he didn't record a strikeout. That doesn't scream future success (see BJ Hermsen).

 

In his latest start (July 9th) Duffey took one step forward.... and 1/2 step back. He did strike out nearly a batter per inning, 5 K's over 6 innings. He gave up 5 hits and a walk with 2 runs allowed.

 

Duffey should make his next start on the 14th. He may be better suited for the bullpen but right now it is too early to tell. He hasn't even had a full year as a starter yet. It takes time to develop into a starter. More than a starter turning into a reliever. Let's give him time to develop an work on his approach with 2 strikes in the count. It should also be noted that the current Twins management doesn't put much stock in strikeouts as long as the pitcher is getting ground balls and eating innings. There is no reason right now to think that the Twins will be moving Tyler to the pen in the near future.

[Chance]

Tyler has continued to improve as he gains more experience at high A Ft. Myers. In his most recent outing he was able to work 7, 1 hit innings. In the processes, he walked 4 and struck out 7.

 

In his previous 3 outings he has worked 20 innings, allowed 10 hits and 6 walks and just 2 runs. He did only accumulate 12 strikeouts through those 20 innings.

 

It has been a pretty successful first full season thus far for Duffey. If he continues to pitch as he has over his previous 3 games, he could potentially stick as a starter for the Twins. It is encouraging that he has gone 7 innings or more in half of his 16 starts and 6 or more in 11/16 starts.

[Chance]

Duffey had another successful start on Monday. He pitched 7 innings agains but this time he was able to strike out 10 batters, a new career high. It is also encouraging to note that, of his 10 strikeouts, 8 were of the swinging kind. He gave up 5 hits and just 1 walk with a solo homerun.

 

Duffey has pitched a combined 107 innings this season already. It will be interesting moving forward if his innings get limited.