Tyler Duffey #21

Tyler Blinn Duffey (pronounced DUFF-ee)...Twitter: @TheDoof13...switched uniform number from 56 to 21 in off-season of 2017-18 after Twins signed Fernando Rodney... 2009 graduate of Bellaire (TX) High School... attended Rice University from 2010-12, where he went 11-5, 3.06 ERA (153.0 IP, 52 ER) with 55 walks and 189 strikeouts in 92 career games (1 start)...named MVP of the 2011 Conference USA championship...finished third in the league with 30 appearances and eighth with 76 strikeouts in 2011...led Rice with four saves as a freshman in 2010...participated in 2016 Twins Winter Caravan.

2017

Made Twins Opening Day roster for first time in career and spent entire season in Twins bullpen...Recorded first career save August 21 at Chicago-AL, allowing one run on one hit in 3.0 innings pitched...Posted a 8.49 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched ratio, the best of his career... Struck out multiple batters in 20 of 56 games; pitched more than 1.0 inning in 25 of 56 games...Ranked fourth on Twins in games (56) and set a single-season career high...Held left-handed hitters to a .243 average and right-handed hitters to a .294 average.

2016

Optioned from Twins spring training March 29 and began season with Triple-A Rochester...Made just three starts for the Red Wings, posting a 1.72 ERA (15.2 IP, 3 ER) and was recalled April 23...Went 1-2, 1.85 ERA (24.1 IP, 5 ER) in first four starts for Twins, including a career-high nine strikeouts May 8 at Chicago-AL (7.0 IP)...struck out four batters in one inning (7th) in that start...Tied season and career-high with nine strikeouts July 7 at Texas (6.0 IP)...Optioned to Triple-A Rochester August 25...Made two starts for the Red Wings and was recalled by Minnesota September 6...Struck out six-plus batters 11 times for the Twins...Held left-handed hitters to a .266 (74-for-278) batting average with the Twins while right-handers hit .337 (93-for-276)...Led Twins in wins (9) and losses (12), second in strikeouts (114) and third in innings pitched (133.0)...Had 6.16 run support average, the highest on the Twins staff and seventh in the AL (minimum 125.0 IP).

2015

Was Twins spring training invite and attended first career Twins spring training; reassigned to minor league camp March 15…Began season with Double-A Chattanooga with 16.2 scoreless inning streak over first three starts, including 10 strikeouts (6.2 IP) in first start April 9 at Montgomery…Named Southern League Pitcher of the Week and Twins minor league Player of the Week April 19, after making one start April 15 vs. Birmingham, pitching 7.0 shutout innings with two hits allowed, one walk and eight strikeouts…Set minor league career-high with 12 strikeouts (7.0 IP) May 17 vs. Montgomery…Went 2-2, 2.56 ERA (52.2 IP, 15 ER) with 12 walks and 54 strikeouts in eight starts and was promoted to Triple-A Rochester May 22; led Southern League in innings pitched and was second in strikeouts at time of promotion…Named International League Pitcher of the Week June 30, making two starts for the Red Wings, going 2-0, 0.00 ERA (14.1 IP) with two walks and 10 strikeouts, including a 7.0-inning complete game June 28 vs. Charlotte…Posted 33.2-inning scoreless streak June 17-July 9…Contract selected by Minnesota August 3…Made major league debut in a start August 5 at Toronto, allowing six runs on five hits in 2.0 innings pitched and was issued the loss…Optioned back to Rochester August 6, then recalled August 14 when the Twins placed Phil Hughes on the disabled list…Earned first major league win August 15 vs. Cleveland, pitching 6.0 shutout innings with one hit, five walks and seven strikeouts; carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning…Went 3-0, 2.35 ERA (30.2 IP, 8 ER) with eight walks and 27 strikeouts in five September starts...tied for second most wins among AL rookies during the month. A Posted opponent batting averages of .157 (13-for-83) first time through the lineup, .257 (19-for-74) second time through and .368 (21- for-57) third time through…After first start, went 5-0, 2.25 ERA (56.0 IP, 14 ER) with 18 walks and 52 strikeouts in final nine starts…Combined to go 12-9, 2.71 ERA (196.0 IP, 59 ER) with 50 walks and 175 strikeouts in 32 starts between all three levels.