Zach Duke
Encyclopedia
Zachary Thomas Duke is a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Duke bats and throws left-handed
.
in Waco, Texas
, in the 20th round of the 2001
draft, and began his career the following year with the Pirates' rookie level Gulf Coast League
team. He spent 2003 with the low-A Hickory Crawdads
.
In 2004, Duke led all minor league
pitchers with a 1.46 earned run average
(24 earned runs in 148.1 innings pitched
). He posted a 15-6 record in 26 combined starts between Class-A Lynchburg
and Double-A Altoona
, and his 15 wins tied for third-most among all minor league pitchers.
Following the 2004 season, Duke was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year and earned Carolina League
Pitcher-of-the-Year honors. He was selected by Baseball America
as the sixth-best prospect in the Eastern League
and the best pitching prospect (fourth-best prospect overall) in the Carolina League. He was also recognized by the publication as having the best breaking
pitch in the league.
, striking out nine and receiving a no-decision in the Pirates 5-3 loss. His nine strikeouts were the most by a Pirate making their MLB debut since Tim Wakefield
on July 31, 1992.
Duke's debut month included a 3-0 shutout victory against Greg Maddux
and the Cubs
on July 16 and 22 consecutive scoreless innings from July 2 to July 21. He was named National League Rookie of the month for July while compiling a 0.87 ERA
, the best among all starting pitchers in the Major Leagues.
He became only the second Pittsburgh rookie to win his first 5 decisions, along with Whitey Glazner
. He also became one of only four pitchers during the Live-ball era
to record an ERA below 1.00 in their first six starts (the others being Fernando Valenzuela
, Boo Ferriss and Steve Rogers).
Duke's first full season with the Pirates was as the new team ace, anchoring a very young rotation with Ian Snell
. Duke had a number of good starts in the first half of the season, but many of them were undone by the Pirates' weak bullpen and lack of run support for Duke. The second half of 2006 was a re-emergence of the Duke that had dazzled Pittsburgh with his stuff from the previous year, and, on a side note, it was the first time the Pirates had compiled a winning record for a half of a season since 1992. Duke recorded 2 complete game efforts, the only 2 that Pittsburgh had all season. His first was a shutout of the Chicago Cubs on May 2, but he only had 2 strikeouts and a walk. His better effort was on August 11 against the St. Louis Cardinals
. While he scattered 8 hits, Duke only allowed 1 run (it was earned), recorded no walks and 7 strikeouts. Duke also threw 11 fewer pitches than his previous complete game effort, and recorded 14 ground-ball outs. Duke's final line for the 2006 season was 10-15 with a 4.47 ERA and 117 strikeouts against 68 walks. Duke also became the first Pirates starter since Kris Benson
in 2000 to throw more than 200 innings with 215 and 1/3 innings pitched.
In 2008 he gave up more doubles than any other pitcher in the majors, with 58, and more sacrifice hits, with 14.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-batting-pitching.shtml
Zach Duke was named to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
, replacing the injured Matt Cain
. He finished off 2009 with an 11-16 record, a 4.06 era, 3 complete games, 1 shutout, 23 home runs given up, only 3 hit batsmen, 49 walks, 106 strikeouts, a .285 average against, 1.31 walks and hits per innings pitched, and 213 inning pitched. On November 24, 2010, the Pittsburgh Pirates
traded Duke to the Arizona Diamondbacks
for a player to be named later
, determined to be César Valdez
.
On May 28, 2011, Duke was activated off the disabled list and made his first start with the Arizona Diamondbacks
. He also hit his first major league home run that day, a three-run home run off of Bud Norris
.
at Butler University. His best man was former Pirates closer Matt Capps
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. Duke bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Minor league career
Duke was drafted directly out of Midway High SchoolMidway High School
Midway High School is the only high school in the Midway Independent School District, which serves the Waco, Texas area. Although the school is located in southwestern Waco, most students live in the suburbs of Woodway and Hewitt....
in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, in the 20th round of the 2001
2001 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Arizona Diamondbacks*Postseason - October 9 to November 4Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
draft, and began his career the following year with the Pirates' rookie level Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
team. He spent 2003 with the low-A Hickory Crawdads
Hickory Crawdads
The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Crawdads play home games...
.
In 2004, Duke led all minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitchers with a 1.46 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(24 earned runs in 148.1 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
). He posted a 15-6 record in 26 combined starts between Class-A Lynchburg
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
and Double-A Altoona
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
, and his 15 wins tied for third-most among all minor league pitchers.
Following the 2004 season, Duke was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year and earned Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Pitcher-of-the-Year honors. He was selected by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the sixth-best prospect in the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
and the best pitching prospect (fourth-best prospect overall) in the Carolina League. He was also recognized by the publication as having the best breaking
Breaking ball
In baseball, a breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight like a fastball as it approaches the batter. A pitcher who uses primarily breaking ball pitches is often referred to as a junkballer. A breaking ball will have some sideways or downward motion on it...
pitch in the league.
Major league career
Zach Duke made his major league debut on July 2, 2005 against the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, striking out nine and receiving a no-decision in the Pirates 5-3 loss. His nine strikeouts were the most by a Pirate making their MLB debut since Tim Wakefield
Tim Wakefield
Timothy Stephen Wakefield is an American professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began pitching with the Red Sox in 1995, making him the longest-serving player currently on the team. Wakefield is also the oldest current active player in the majors, and one of two active knuckleballers, the other...
on July 31, 1992.
Duke's debut month included a 3-0 shutout victory against Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
and the Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on July 16 and 22 consecutive scoreless innings from July 2 to July 21. He was named National League Rookie of the month for July while compiling a 0.87 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, the best among all starting pitchers in the Major Leagues.
He became only the second Pittsburgh rookie to win his first 5 decisions, along with Whitey Glazner
Whitey Glazner
Charles Franklin "Whitey" Glazner was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies...
. He also became one of only four pitchers during the Live-ball era
Live-ball era
The live-ball era, also referred to as the lively ball era, is the period in Major League Baseball beginning in , following the dead-ball era. During that year offensive statistics rose dramatically in what would be mistakenly attributed to the introduction of a new "lively" ball...
to record an ERA below 1.00 in their first six starts (the others being Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
, Boo Ferriss and Steve Rogers).
Duke's first full season with the Pirates was as the new team ace, anchoring a very young rotation with Ian Snell
Ian Snell
Ian Dante Snell is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. From -, he went by the name Ian Oquendo, adopting the last name of his wife, and during the 2009 World Baseball Classic he went by Ian Davila-Snell, adopting his stepfather's surname...
. Duke had a number of good starts in the first half of the season, but many of them were undone by the Pirates' weak bullpen and lack of run support for Duke. The second half of 2006 was a re-emergence of the Duke that had dazzled Pittsburgh with his stuff from the previous year, and, on a side note, it was the first time the Pirates had compiled a winning record for a half of a season since 1992. Duke recorded 2 complete game efforts, the only 2 that Pittsburgh had all season. His first was a shutout of the Chicago Cubs on May 2, but he only had 2 strikeouts and a walk. His better effort was on August 11 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. While he scattered 8 hits, Duke only allowed 1 run (it was earned), recorded no walks and 7 strikeouts. Duke also threw 11 fewer pitches than his previous complete game effort, and recorded 14 ground-ball outs. Duke's final line for the 2006 season was 10-15 with a 4.47 ERA and 117 strikeouts against 68 walks. Duke also became the first Pirates starter since Kris Benson
Kris Benson
Kristin James Benson is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Benson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from to , New York Mets from to , Baltimore Orioles in to , Texas Rangers in , and Arizona Diamondbacks in ....
in 2000 to throw more than 200 innings with 215 and 1/3 innings pitched.
In 2008 he gave up more doubles than any other pitcher in the majors, with 58, and more sacrifice hits, with 14.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-batting-pitching.shtml
Zach Duke was named to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 80th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of the...
, replacing the injured Matt Cain
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
. He finished off 2009 with an 11-16 record, a 4.06 era, 3 complete games, 1 shutout, 23 home runs given up, only 3 hit batsmen, 49 walks, 106 strikeouts, a .285 average against, 1.31 walks and hits per innings pitched, and 213 inning pitched. On November 24, 2010, the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
traded Duke to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
, determined to be César Valdez
César Valdez
César Miguel Valdez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Arizona Diamondbacks:...
.
On May 28, 2011, Duke was activated off the disabled list and made his first start with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. He also hit his first major league home run that day, a three-run home run off of Bud Norris
Bud Norris
David Stefan "Bud" Norris is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros.- Minor League Career :...
.
Personal
He married Kristin Gross in Evansville, Indiana in November 2007. They met when she was an emcee for the Indianapolis Indians. She was a Kappa Alpha ThetaKappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
at Butler University. His best man was former Pirates closer Matt Capps
Matt Capps
Matthew Dicus Capps , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is a 2002 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglasville, where he lettered in football, basketball, cross-country and baseball before receiving a scholarship at LSU...
.
External links
- CBS SportsLine - minor league statistics