Matt Duffy

Matthew Michael Duffy (born January 15, 1991), nicknamed "Duffman", is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers. He played college baseball at Long Beach State.

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Duffy grew up a Los Angeles Angels fan. Duffy attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood, California, where he acquired the nickname "Duffman". At Lakewood High School, Duffy was a two-year letterwinner and led the team to a 23–12 record and a league championship in 2008. He was a two-time all-state selection and a two-time all-league pick. As a junior, Duffy achieved a batting average of .409 and 28 runs batted in. He hit .380 his senior year with 34 runs batted in and 3 home runs.

Duffy played college baseball at Long Beach State University from 2010 to 2012. During his 2010 season at Long Beach State, Duffy played in 30 games, starting 20 of them; averaged .244, had 86 at-bats, 8 runs, 21 hits, and 7 RBI. In the 2011 season, Duffy played in 55 games, starting 54 of them; averaged .266, had 214 at-bats, 22 runs, 57 hits, and 31 RBI. In those two seasons at Long Beach State, Duffy played in 85 games, starting 74 of them; averaged .260, had 300 at-bats, 30 runs, 78 hits, and 38 RBI. In 501 college at-bats, Matt Duffy hit .253 and had an on-base percentage of .305. Over those three seasons, Duffy recorded zero home runs, sixteen doubles, and one triple. He was kept in the lineup more for his defensive abilities.

In 2011, Duffy played in the Cape Cod League with the Orleans Firebirds, where he was named a league all-star and improved his swing by standing further back in the batter's box and incorporating a leg kick. In recent offseasons, he has occasionally worked with Firebirds' hitting coach Benny Craig. Craig urged Duffy to read Harvey Dorfman's The Mental Keys to Hitting, which Duffy says he has read at least 10 times, referring back to it during the occasional struggles that hitting is known for.