Duffy wears new look, raises expectations
Pitcher sets goal of working 200-plus innings
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The new-look Danny Duffy, sporting a heavy beard and a curly hairdo, arrived for the first official workout for Royals pitchers and catchers on Friday.
"I'm getting called 'John the Baptist,'" a smiling Duffy said. "But the hair, it's not [a perm]. It's natural."
Duffy also said he has put on about 15 pounds of muscle, going from 195 to 212 pounds ("I'm not good with the math part," he said.)
"I just felt that it would help my durability," Duffy said. "It's a long season. Plus, I'm hoping I can get more body behind the ball and that will help me not fly open so much in my delivery.
"I think that's what happened late last season. I was just flying open all the time. Hopefully that won't happen now."
Duffy said his goal this season is to pitch 200 innings. His career high is 149 1/3 innings, which he accomplished last season.
"Definitely, I want to be a workhorse," Duffy said. "I want to be getting into the seventh and eighth innings as much as possible."