| Duke Ellis | |
| Team: | Seattle Mariners |
| Position: | Outfielder |
| Birth Date: | 16 January 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 4 |
| Debutyear: | 2024 |
| Debutteam: | Chicago White Sox |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | June 9, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .000 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Stat4label: | Stolen bases |
| Stat4value: | 4 |
| Teams: | |
Robert Duke Ellis (born January 16, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox.
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]
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] In eight games for Chicago, he went 0–for–8 with four stolen bases. Ellis was designated for assignment by the White Sox on June 16.[11]
On June 21, 2024, Ellis was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[12] He played in two games for the Double–A Binghamton Rumble Ponies prior to being designated for assignment on June 30.[13]
On July 4, 2024, Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.[14]
Ellis' father Robert, pitched in Major League Baseball from 1996 to 2003.[15]