Royals scratch Danny Duffy from Tuesday’s start for missing team’s flight to Detroit
Royals left-hander Danny Duffy will not make his scheduled start Tuesday night in Detroit due to what the team is calling internal disciplinary action.
Duffy, 31, missed the team’s charter flight to Detroit Monday night, manager Mike Matheny said.
The Royals designated right-hander Jakob Junis as their new starting pitcher for Tuesday night’s series opener in Detroit.
Riding a six-game winning streak, the Royals had a day off Monday and begin a two-game series against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Duffy last pitched in the club’s 3-0 win Wednesday in Cleveland.
Matheny did not go into detail about what caused Duffy to miss the flight. Matheny did note that Duffy, who has openly discussed his battles with depression and anxiety in the past, was physically OK.
Rob Collins of FOX4 reported, citing sources, that Duffy was found with a damaged vehicle in Kansas City Monday night waiting on a ride, and no citations were given.
The Kansas City Police Department released these details regarding a call officers responded to at 16th and Jefferson at 6:48 p.m. Monday: “Officers were dispatched on a suspicious car and occupant to 16th and Jefferson. They found a male in a car, which was parked legally. The vehicle was off and the keys were not in the ignition. There was some damage on the vehicle that rendered it incapable of operating. The owner of the vehicle arranged to have the vehicle towed from the location. Due to no apparent crime committed, there was no police incident report completed.”
During his pre-game conference call with reporters, Matheny said the club was still collecting information.
“Where we are, it really comes down to missing the team flight yesterday,” Matheny said. “We’re very happy he was able to get here in Detroit last night. We’re having conversation, still kind of sorting through the details. At this point, missing that club flight yesterday will take his start today and we’ll continue to find out more of the details.”
Matheny said the club had not discussed when Duffy would make his next start.
Duffy remained on the active roster as of Tuesday, and he did join the club in Detroit Monday night. He met with Matheny Tuesday morning and addressed his teammates and apologized to them, the manager said.
“This guy is very well-liked in that clubhouse (because) of how he treats people and how he thinks about and invests in his teammates,” Matheny said. “He knows that things like this aren’t how he wants to be thought of or portrayed. It’s not the reputation he wants. It’s not the example he wants to give. All of those things he was remorseful for, and he shared that with his teammates.”
In late August 2017, Duffy was cited for DUI in the drive-thru lane of a Burger King restaurant in Overland Park. He later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was placed on probation.
In nine starts this season, the veteran left-hander has gone 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 19 walks in 46 2/3 innings pitched.
Matheny had said as far back as spring training that he wanted Duffy and Brad Keller to take leadership roles on the Royals’ pitching staff — particularly Duffy, having more experience than any other member of the starting rotation and having been a part of Kansas City’s World Series teams.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
