Duke Ellis

Robert Duke Ellis

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.
• School Panola College, University of Texas at Austin
• High School Central Heights High School
• Debut June 4, 2024

• Born January 16, 1998 in Shreveport, LA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Duke Ellis is the son of major league pitcher Robert Ellis, who was his coach in high school. He was drafted in the 20th round of the 2017 amateur draft out of Panola College by the San Diego Padres, but decided to go on to the University of Texas. He played three years for the Longhorns, but his senior season in 2020 was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic after 17 games. He had played in the 2018 College World Series with Texas. The pandemic also shortened the 2020 amateur draft to just 5 rounds, so he had to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago White Sox on June 19, 2020.

He reached the majors in 2024, making his debut on June 4th as a pinch-runner for Oscar Colas in the 9th inning of a 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Representing the tying run, he stole second base, but after that was picked off second by pitcher Hector Neris. He was a top base stealer in the minors, with 57 between the Class A Winston-Salem Dash and AA Birmingham Barons in 2022, and 34 in 39 games, while being caught stealing only once for Birmingham before his call-up in 2024. In 2023, he had missed all 16 games of the season due to an injury, and hit only .157.

Further Reading

• Scott Merkin: "Both drafted by White Sox, Duke Ellis fulfills dad's unachieved goal", mlb.com, June 14, 2024. [1]

Related Sites

• Duke Ellis on mlb.com
• University of Texas bio