When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Danny Duffy from the Kansas City Royals on the eve of the trade deadline, he was on the 10-day injured list with a second left flexor strain suffered this season.
There initially was some hope Duffy could return in August, but the Dodgers made it clear his recovery process would not be rushed. “I’m just going to kind of do what I’m told in that regard and listen to the medical staff,” Duffy said last month.
The Dodgers methodically mapped out a throwing program for the left-hander that led into throwing a bullpen session last week. Duffy came out of it well and was scheduled to get off the mound again with the Dodgers back at Dodger Stadium.
However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed he failed to make it through that throwing session due to a left elbow issue and now is unlikely to return this season, via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:
“It doesn’t look great,” Roberts said before Saturday night’s game against the San Diego Padres in Dodger Stadium. “Outside of any type of miracle, for him to impact us this year, it’s going to be tough.”
Duffy previously spent May 12 through June 23 on the IL because of the strain before it was re-aggravated and he was sidelined again on July 20.
The Dodgers initially planned to stretch Duffy out as a starting pitcher but more recently said he was slated to fill a role out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old expressed a willingness to pitch in any role the Dodgers needed.
Duffy went 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 22 walks in 61 innings over 13 games (12 starts) for the Royals this year.
He is due to become a free agent after this season.
Duffy enjoyed homecoming
A graduate of Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, Calif., Duffy was excited to join the Dodgers and contribute to their quest for a second World Series title.
“It’s really, really cool. I can’t understate that,” he said in August. “I’m really fired up and thankful. I’ve got a real thankful heart for all this. The fact that they put their name on me says a lot and means a lot.”
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