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Kansas City Royals pitcher Danny Duffy was arrested on Sunday night on suspicion of driving under the influence in Overpark, Kansas, according to local police and the Kansas City Star.
As Deadspin noted, Kevin Keitzman, a reporter for Kansas City sports radio station WHB, tweeted out more details about the incident, including that the police were called after Duffy reportedly fell asleep while in the drive-through at a Burger King.
According to Burger King employee, Duffy passed out in the drive through. They called cops to wake him.
— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) August 29, 2017
Apparantly quite the ordeal for other diners in line behind him. At least one was asked by Duffy to jump into drivers seat to save him.
— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) August 29, 2017
Employee says a worker at BK reached into his car and put it into park position. He passed out with foot on brake or neutral.
— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) August 29, 2017
Employees here didn’t know he was arrested for DUI until we just told them. They had been wondering what was going to happen to him.
— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) August 29, 2017
When Duffy heard sirens, he woke up and tried to get into passenger seat.
— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) August 29, 2017
The Royals had been finished a series in Cleveland on Sunday, but Duffy was not with the team, having been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sore left elbow.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore put out a statement regarding the incident.
We are obviously disappointed in the news we have received regarding Danny Duffy’s DUI arrest on Sunday night. Danny was not part of the team traveling back from Cleveland on Sunday because he had returned to Kansas City a day earlier to undergo an MRI examination.
We are still in the early stages of gathering the details, but I do know that Danny has always been accountable as a member of this organization and we expect the same accountability from him as this process moves forward. We obviously do not condone anyone driving while under the influence, but this is now a legal matter and we will allow the process to unfold and cannot comment any further.
Duffy has been one of the Royals most reliable starters over the course of the season, sporting a 3.78 ERA and leading the team in strikeouts.
The Royals are currently fighting in the AL Wild Card race, just three games back from a spot in the play-in game, but with five teams in front of them. They are also in a tailspin, closing in on the all-time record for consecutive innings without a run.
The Royals host the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, and will look to break their abysmal streak and get a crucial win in the AL Wild Card race.