Robert Duke Ellis (born January 16, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the New York Yankees organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox.
| Duke Ellis | |
|---|---|
.png) Ellis with the Winston-Salem Dash in 2022 | |
| New York Yankees | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: January 16, 1998 Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 4, 2024, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .200 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Stolen bases | 5 |
| Teams | |
Amateur career
editEllis graduated from Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 2016.[1] He enrolled at Panola College for his freshman year and began his college baseball career. After one year at Panola, the San Diego Padres selected Ellis in the 20th round, with the 588th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign. Ellis transferred to the University of Texas at Austin to play for the Texas Longhorns.[2] In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps and Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]
Professional career
editChicago White Sox
editEllis was not selected in the 2020 MLB Draft and signed with the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent on June 19, 2020.[4] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Ellis made his professional debut in 2021 with the High–A Winston-Salem Dash, playing in 73 games and hitting .200/.274/.277 with four home runs, 18 RBI, and 23 stolen bases.[6] He spent the 2022 season back with Winston-Salem, and received a late–season cup of coffee with the Double–A Birmingham Barons. In 100 games for the Dash, Ellis hit .273/.360/.390 with career–highs in home runs (7), RBI (27), and stolen bases (50).[7]
Ellis played in only 16 games for Double–A Birmingham in 2023 due to injury troubles, and hit .157 with four RBI.[8] He began the 2024 campaign with Birmingham, batting .258/.341/.308 with one home run, 12 RBI, and 34 stolen bases across 39 appearances.[9]
On June 4, 2024, Ellis was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[10] He made his Major League debut that day, in a game against the Chicago Cubs. In the ninth inning, he entered the game as a pinch runner, replacing Oscar Colás. On the next pitch, he earned his first career stolen base with a steal of second. However, he would end up being picked-off at second base by the Cubs’ pitcher, Héctor Neris.[11] In eight games for Chicago, he went 0–for–4 with four stolen bases. Ellis was designated for assignment by the White Sox on June 16.[12]
New York Mets
editOn June 21, 2024, Ellis was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[13] He played in two games for the Double–A Binghamton Rumble Ponies prior to being designated for assignment on June 30.[14]
Seattle Mariners
editOn July 4, 2024, Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.[15] In 32 games for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, he hit .212/.291/.385 with four home runs, 20 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. Ellis was designated for assignment on August 23.[16]
New York Yankees
editOn August 26, 2024, Ellis was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees.[17] On September 4, against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, he recorded his first major league hit, a single to left field.[18] In 3 total games for the Yankees, he went 1–for–1 with a stolen base. On November 4, Ellis was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[19]
Personal life
editEllis' father Robert, pitched in Major League Baseball from 1996 to 2003.[20]
References
edit- ^ Merkin, Scott (June 15, 2024). "Both drafted by White Sox, Duke Ellis fulfills dad's unachieved goal". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ GORE, KEVIN (July 11, 2017). "Duke Ellis signs with Texas". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "#4 Duke Ellis - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ "Baseball's Ellis signs free agent contract with White Sox". texassports.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Duke Ellis - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Duke Ellis - Baseball Stats". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 84: Duke Ellis". southsidesox.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "White Sox's Duke Ellis: Will be called up Tuesday". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "White Sox Designate Zach Remillard, Select Duke Ellis". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Sox prospect Ellis' MLB debut features steal, hard lessons on basepaths". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "White Sox Select Chuckie Robinson". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ "Mets Claim Duke Ellis From White Sox". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mets Select Matt Festa, Tyler Jay; Designate Duke Ellis". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ "Mariners Claim Duke Ellis From Mets". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "Mariners Claim Terrin Vavra, Designate Duke Ellis". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Yankees Claim Duke Ellis". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Davison, Drew (September 5, 2024). "Yanks know 'we need to be better than this' right now". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ "Yankees Outright Duke Ellis". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 37: Duke Ellis". southsidesox.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)