PHOENIX — Danny Duffy wears his sports loyalties right on his sleeve – or under it.
A native of Lompoc, Duffy grew up a big fan of the Lakers and Dodgers and remains so. He has “VIII” and “XXIV” tattooed on his right forearm – Kobe Bryant’s uniform numbers with the Lakers. And he has a baseball signed by Hall of Fame manager and Dodgers icon Tommy Lasorda that he got at a pre-draft workout in 2007.
Lasorda signed it to a “Future Dodger.” That prophecy came true on Thursday when the Dodgers acquired the 32-year-old pitcher from the Kansas City Royals in a pre-deadline trade.
“I went down to Dodger Stadium maybe three, four times a year when I was little,” Duffy said Sunday, adding that he was a big Mike Piazza fan.
“Gosh man, I cried my eyes out when he got traded, him and (Todd) Zeile. I think it was, what, Bobby Bonilla,Gary Sheffield, Manny Corpas and Jim Eisenreich. That was a tough couple days in my childhood. So that could really kind of paint a picture of how I felt about the Dodgers growing up, and then now having it be full circle and being able to come play for them … it’s crazy, man. I’m very, very thankful for the opportunity.”
Nine-year-old Duffy would no doubt correct him on his recall of the Piazza trade. It was Manny Barrios not Manny Corpas and he forgot to mention Charles Johnson.
Returning to play for his hometown team is “awesome,” Duffy said. The question is how soon the left-hander will be able to actually pitch for the Dodgers. Duffy is currently on the injured list for the second time this season with a flexor strain in his pitching arm. He has not pitched since July 16 after missing five weeks with the same injury earlier in the year.
“I feel like this last week I’ve turned the corner a little bit physically,” he said. “I’ve been told anywhere from late August, early September, depending upon the role, which I’m not aware of so far. I’m just kind of gonna do what I’m told to in that regard and listen to the medical staff and everybody in the clubhouse.
“Hopefully, (I’ll be pitching in) early September. That kind of sounds like across the board what the answer I got was.”
Flexor strains are often related to elbow trouble, with Tommy John surgery the ultimate outcome for some pitchers. Duffy said he is aware of that but has been assured his ulnar collateral ligament is not compromised.
“My ligament is fully intact,” he said. “From what I’ve been told by multiple people, everything is fine. It’s just my flexor is a little bit cranky. But it’s getting better, and it’s getting better every day I wake up. So it’s, it’s definitely getting there.”
Duffy has primarily been a starter throughout his career. But the Dodgers see him as a potential multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen down the stretch and in the playoffs – akin to the role Julio Urias played for them last October.
“I’m just kind of at a point where I’m just gonna do whatever they ask of me, and get physically right all the way and then whatever’s needed I’m all for it,” Duffy said. “I feel like I could be helpful out of any role.”
2B OR NOT 2B
Mookie Betts was activated from the injured list on Sunday and returned to his customary spot at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup – but not his customary spot on the field. Betts started at second base for only the second time since his rookie season of 2014.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it is just a one-game thing based largely on the artificial turf at Chase Field.
“We’ve got a day on turf here. Obviously, when you’re dealing with a hip pointer, the turf isn’t conducive to that,” Roberts said.
“I think swinging the bat isn’t a problem. Even running the bases is fine. The thing for us was the ground that he would have to cover in the outfield on turf. Going forward, he’s obviously our right fielder. But for this one game, there’s not a lot of concern if he’s on the dirt and taking at-bats.”
KERSHAW CATCH
Injured left-hander Clayton Kershaw did not throw a simulated game Sunday as originally scheduled. Kershaw is experiencing “residual soreness” and played catch instead.
“It’s more just making sure we get to the next day,” Roberts said. “At some point soon when he feels pain-free and strong enough to go out there and pitch a simulated game then we’ll get to that point.”
Kershaw has not pitched since July 3 due to a sore elbow.
ALSO
In other roster moves, utilityman Zach McKinstry and right-hander Mitch White were optioned to Triple-A and right-hander Yefry Ramirez was promoted from Oklahoma City. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster spot for Ramirez, right-hander Jimmie Sherfy was moved to the 60-day IL. …
Roberts said he is hopeful that versatile shortstop Trea Turner, who was acquired along with pitcher Max Scherzer from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline, will join the team in Los Angeles “sometime at the end of the week, Friday or Saturday.” Turner is currently on the COVID IL.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers are off Monday.
Astros (RHP Lance McCullers Jr., 8-2, 3.23 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Walker Buehler, 11-1, 2.19 ERA), Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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