Duke Ellis

American baseball player (born 1998)

Baseball player

Duke Ellis
Chicago White Sox – No. 27
Outfielder
Born: (1998-01-16) January 16, 1998 (age 26) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 4, 2024, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics (through June 9, 2024)
Batting average	.000
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	0
Stolen bases	3

Teams
Chicago White Sox (2024–present)

Robert Duke Ellis (born January 16, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Ellis graduated from Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 2016. 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 to play for the Texas Longhorns.^[1] In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps and Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.^[2]

Professional career

Ellis was not selected in the 2020 MLB Draft and signed with the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent on June 19, 2020.^[3] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[4]

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.^[5] 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).^[6]

Ellis played in only 16 games for Double–A Birmingham in 2023 due to injury troubles, and hit .157 with four RBI.^[7] He began the 2024 campaign with Birmingham, batting .258/.341/.308 with one home run, 12 RBI, and 34 stolen bases across 39 appearances.^[8]

On June 4, 2024, Ellis was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[9] 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.^[10]

Personal life

Ellis' father Robert, pitched in Major League Baseball from 1996 to 2003.^[11]

References

^ https://www.dailysentinel.com/sports/duke-ellis-signs-with-texas/article_e5304264-66b2-11e7-a084-83e20097c3ee.html
^ "#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.
^ https://www.mlb.com/news/duke-ellis-steals-a-base-in-mlb-debut-with-white-sox
^ "South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 37: Duke Ellis". southsidesox.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.