SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals left-hander Danny Duffy said he was flattered that now ex-teammate Eric Hosmer identified him as his best teammate.
Hosmer, a free-agent first baseman who signed with the Padres, participated in an #AskThePadres Twitter Q&A on Tuesday night and was asked about his best teammate ever.
Hosmer responded, "I'm gonna say Duffy. He was always bringing in stuff for the whole team. He's the pitcher always on the top step when he's not pitching."
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Duffy broke into a smile when told.
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"Makes me feel good," Duffy said. "The whole group came up together, but for him to single me out is pretty cool."
Duffy said it always has been important to him to support his position teammates.
"I do my best," Duffy said. "They always put on for us, so in my down time for four days, I think it is right to put on for them."
Textgate continues
On Sunday, as reports of Hosmer agreeing to terms with the Padres swirled around Royals camp, manager Ned Yost was asked if he had heard from Hosmer over the offseason. Yost said he had not, but conceding that Hosmer may have been advised by his representation not to as he pursued free agency.

Yost then said jokingly that he hadn't heard from Hosmer, "even on my deathbed," referring to Yost's horrific fall from a tree stand in November.
Royals fans became upset at Hosmer on Twitter, even though Yost said he didn't think it was any big deal.
Hosmer then appeared on MLB Network on Tuesday night and when asked a general question about Yost, he said jokingly, "I'll question his ability to use a cell phone. He said I didn't reach out to him and I have the text messages in my phone that have conversations with us."
Yost responded on Wednesday morning, "I'd like to see them. I texted him after he won his Gold Glove [Award], and I texted him after I fell, just to see how things were going [and didn't hear back].
"Come to find out, someone said he changed his number. When I finally got his new number, I texted him [a week ago], he said, 'I'm good, thanks.'"
Yost also praised Hosmer's contribution to the Royals again and said he was done answering questions about the matter.
Saturday's pitchers
Yost said right-hander Jesse Hahn will start Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Dodgers in Surprise and will go two innings. Right-hander Burch Smith, a Rule 5 Draft selection, will then throw two innings.
After that, Yost said he will work in right-hander Kevin McCarthy, left-handers Eric Stout and Tim Hill, and right-handers Michael Maness and Kevin Lenik.