Top Prospects #5: Danny Duffy

#5 Danny Duffy


Age: 21
Pos: LHP
HT/WT: 6-3/195
Drafted: 3rd Round, Pick #96 of 2007 Rule IV Draft
High School: Cabrillo High School (CA)
ETA: 2011

Since Danny Duffy was drafted in 2007 he hasn't done anything but dominate professional baseball. As an eighteen year old in the Arizona League he posted a 1.45 era with 63 Ks in just 37.1 innings pitched. In 2008 the Royals promoted him to the Midwest League for his first opportunity in full season ball, where as a teenager Duffy did what? Dominate. In 81.2 innings he had a k:bb rate of 4:1 and an era of 2.20. And just a season ago Duffy was promoted to Wilmington where he recorded a nearly a strikeout per inning and had an era of 2.98. In three minor league seasons Duffy has produced a k:bb rate of 290:83 and an era of 2.49.

Duffy is an extremely advanced pitcher and this season even received an invite to big league camp with an outside shot at a spot in the bullpen. He features a fastball that sits around 90 mph, an above average curveball that should be a quality out pitch as he develops, and a change that has came along way since he was drafted in '07. While Duffy doesn't have the same "potential" as other guys in the system and projects as a number 3 starter, I have him this high because the guy hasn't had any difficulty in professional baseball. I doubt when he was drafted in 2007 many scouts envisioned him dominating for the first two and a half years of his pro career either. Duffy should begin the year in the Naturals rotation and it could be an interesting race between him and after Aaron Crow he should be the first Dayton Moore pitching prospect to reach the Majors.