Renny Duarte

Renney Enrique Duarte Rojas
also known as Renny Rojas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 220 lb.

• Born November 7, 1978 in Maracaibo, Zulia Venezuela

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Renny Duarte was signed by the California Angels in 1996. He debuted in the minors with the 1996 AZL Angels, fanning 28 in 27 2/3 IP. He was 2-0 with a save and a 3.58 ERA. In 1997, he went 8-4 with a 3.51 ERA for the Butte Copper Kings. He was 6th in the Pioneer League in ERA and led the league in innings (110), hits allowed (113, tied) and wins (tied with Scott Williamson).

Duarte pitched in 1998 with the Lake Elsinore Storm (6-7, 4.96) and Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-1, 0.56, 17 H, 1 BB in 32 IP). In 1999, the right-hander was back with Cedar Rapids (6-11, 4.75) and Lake Elsinore (0-1, 6.43, 22 H, 8 BB in 14 IP).

During 2000, the Venezuelan hurler moved to the bullpen full-time with Lake Elsinore (2-2, 4.65), the Erie SeaWolves (0-1, Sv, 6.17) and the Edmonton Trappers (2 runs in 2 innings).

Let go by the Angels, Duarte spent time in the Mexican League according to the 2009 Tigers Media Guide, but he is not listed as doing so in Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database. The 2009 Tigers Media Guide lists him as having pitched in Italy at some point during 2003-2008 but this is not confirmed by the two main Italian baseball websites, which lists all active players in Italy's top league; it is possible Duarte pitched in a lesser circuit or under a different name.

Duarte pitched for San Inazio in the Spanish Division de Honor in 2004, going 10-6 with a 2.40 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 131 innings. He led the league in wins and had half of his team's decisions that year. In 2006, he was the ace of the Marlins Puerto Cruz, going 10-0 with a 0.84 ERA. He also coached for the Marlins during his career in Spain.

Renny was 6-0 with a 1.26 ERA in 2007, finishing 4th in the Division de Honor in ERA behind former Cuban league players Yoel Hernandez and Remigio Leal and former minor leaguer Pedro Pablo Belmonte.

Duarte was 4-1 with 2 saves and a 1.26 ERA in the 2008 Division de Honor. He finished third in ERA behind Leslie Nacar and Homer Baez. He went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in the Grosseto phase of the 2008 European Cup. Renny was 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA for the Cardenales de Lara in the 2008-2009 Venezuelan League.

He was pitching coach of the 2009 VSL Tigers and the Spanish national team during the 2009 Baseball World Cup and 2010 European Championship. When Novara rejoined the Italian Baseball League in 2011, Duarte was on their roster. He debuted in Italy on April 22 with four shutout innings (two hits, four strikeouts) in relief of Jean Toledo in a loss to Unipol Bologna. The veteran was 0-5 with a save and a 8.02 ERA, tying Chris Cooper for 9th in the league in losses. He had a 1-8, 4.52 record in 2012. He tied former major leaguer Mike Smith for the league lead in losses. He was a player/coach for Senago Milano United in the Italian minors in 2013 and then managed them in 2014-2015. He served as the bench coach for Tommasin Padua in the Italian minors in 2016. He returned to a managing role with Novara in 2017. In 2018-2019 Duarte worked as the pitching coach for the Real Federación Española de Béisbol y Softbol.

He also coached for Spain in the 2012 European Championship, 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, 2013 World Baseball Classic, 2014 European Championship, 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, 2016 European Championship, 2018 Super6, 2019 European Championship and 2019 Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier.

The Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 hired Duarte for the DSL Pirates 1 coaching position before the minor league season was cancelled due to COVID-19. He was then pitching coach of the DSL Pirates Gold in 2021 and FCL Pirates in 2022-2024.

Sources

• Spanish Division de Honor
• 2009 Tigers Media Guide
• Mister Baseball
• 2008 European Cup in Grosseto
• 1998 Baseball Almanac