Royals pitcher Danny Duffy has been cited for driving under the influence in suburban Kansas City last weekend, another headache for a team already struggling on the field.
Duffy had left the team’s road trip to return to Kansas City for an MRI exam on his ailing left elbow.
The team was playing a three-game series in Cleveland that concluded Sunday, and was headed home at about the same time Duffy was cited Sunday night.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said ‘we are obviously disappointed in the news’ details were being gathered about what happened.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy talks about being cited for a DUI during a news conference at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday
Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore, left, listens to starting pitcher Danny Duffy talk about being cited for a DUI during a news conference at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas
‘I do know that Danny has always been accountable as a member of this organization and we expect the same accountability from him as this process moves forward,’ Moore said.
‘Look, when these types of situations happen, I’m not interested in any alibis, I’m not interested in any excuses. There are no excuses.
‘The most important thing right now is to be accountable,’ Moore said. ‘These guys are human beings. They make mistakes. And for us to put our faith in a person or an athlete as a perfect vessel, as someone who is always going to make the right choices, it’s a failed way to live your life.’
Then it was Duffy’s turn to read a prepared statement. ‘This is never a good situation to come about,’ he said, whose first appearance in municipal court is September 19.
‘This is something that’s very difficult to go through and when everything comes out and shakes out, I’m going to be better because of it.’
Duffy alluded to the team’s problems but said there is never a good time for such legal trouble.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy did not discuss the circumstances surrounding his DUI incident, including whether alcohol was a factor
‘I’m standing on a lot of peoples’ shoulders right now, and a lot of people have done a lot of things to get me to where I’m at, and to those people too — let the facts shake out,’ Duffy said. ‘We’ll take care of this and we’ll continue to do great things, I can promise you that.’
Duffy did not discuss the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether alcohol was a factor.
The personable Duffy is one of the organization’s most popular players, not only for his on-field production but his work in the community.
He has raised thousands of dollars for charities ranging from animal shelters to children’s hospitals while donating his time to several other events.
The left-hander signed a $65million, five-year contract extension earlier this year, a deal that many believed was below market value.
Duffy said he signed the contract because of the way the Kansas City community had embraced him during his up-and-down career, which included a brief period away from the game and a season lost to Tommy John surgery.
Duffy was 8-8 with a 3.78 ERA when he went on the disabled list Saturday with pain in his left elbow.
The MRI exam revealed no structural damage and the Royals hoped Duffy would only miss one start.
‘Anything that was concerning, we would have shut him down right from the get-go,’ Royals manager Ned Yost said. ‘It got to the point where we needed to take a pause.’
The Royals are desperate for some positive news after losing 12-0 to the Rays on Monday night, the fourth straight game in which they were shut out.
They have not scored in 43 innings dating to a loss to Colorado last Thursday, and could break the major league record of 48 innings shared by the 1968 Chicago Cubs and the 1906 Philadelphia Athletics on Tuesday night.
The 1992 Cubs were the last team to be shut out in four straight games, and it hasn’t happened in the AL since the 1964 Washington Senators – nine years before the adoption of the designated hitter.