All three active MLB Owls saw action with their big league clubs this week. Here’s the latest on the Rice Baseball alums in the pros.
Tyler Duffey was the only former Rice baseball player who saw action in the opening weekend of the MLB’s 2020 season. He threw a scoreless inning while the other Owls worked to get back into their respective lineups. Both Anthony Rendon and Brock Holt made debuts with their new clubs in the days that followed with Rendon making his presence known quickly.
Jon Duplantier is in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ player pool but is currently rehabbing. Reports of his progress have been positive.
Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels
Rendon missed the Angels season-opening series against the Oakland Athletics with an oblique injury. He made his debut in their fourth game of the year, a home contest against the Seattle Mariners. He went 1-3, walking twice and scoring two runs in five plate appearances. His lone hit — his first as an Angel — was a big one. It came in the eighth inning against Mariners’ pitcher Zac Grotz.
Rendon's first hit as an Angel?
A homer. pic.twitter.com/l305jAsbDq
— MLB (@MLB) July 29, 2020
Rendon also weighed in on what it’s like playing with fake crowd noise. “It’s like you have two of your senses that aren’t coinciding with one another,” he said. “It’s like you’re looking at pizza, but you’re smelling a hamburger.”
Through August 3, Rendon is hitting .200 with two extra-base hits, 10 walks and six strikeouts. His OPS is .867.
Tyler Duffey – Minnesota Twins
Tyler Duffey is as locked in as ever. The Twins reliever has allowed one hit and struck out six of the 10 batters he’s faced this season. 64 percent of his pitches have been strikes. He explains a bit of the modifications he made during the offseason that’s helped him have such a tremendous start to the season so far.
Tyler Duffey is off to a great start in 2020. How does he do it? @TheDoof13 explains. pic.twitter.com/qHRVwif2sT
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) August 1, 2020
Through August 3, Duffey has a spotless 0.00 ERA and a 0.250 WHIP. He’s averaging 18 strikeouts per nine innings.
Brock Holt – Milwaukee Brewers
An ankle injury slowed Holt out of the gate. He’s only been used sparingly in the Brewers six games. His debut came on July 27th against the Pirates as a defensive replacement at third base in the 10th inning. He struck out looking in his only plate appearance but would come around to score as the “ghost” runner in the 11th to give the Brewers the win.
Looks like @JGyorko05 and Brock Holt are making the most of being #Brewers this year. (This GIF of Brock Holt was made off Gyorko's latest Intsa post.) pic.twitter.com/Mxaz2SsSOH
— The Brewer Nation (@BrewerNation) August 1, 2020
Through August 3, Holt is hitless in three plate appearances. He’s struck out once, been hit by a pitch and grounded out.
