TYLER, Texas — Nobody understands what it takes to get to the big leagues like a big leaguer. That’s where Duke Ellis had a bit of an advantage in his baseball development.
His dad, Robert Ellis, a high school head baseball coach at Bullard ISD, was an MLB pitcher for four different teams. In all of Robert’s years spent between MLB and the minor leagues, Duke was never far behind.
"He grew up in a locker room at a young age growing up. Some years I was in the big leagues some years I was in the minor leagues but he was always around the game shagging fly balls. And he just really kinda grew up in the game," Robert said.
Despite growing up in the game, baseball was never forced on Duke. Of course, it was always an option for Duke and it was something he naturally gravitated toward.
"That kind of mindset, kind of helped me grow the passion that I had. It wasn’t like we have to go do this, we have to go do that. It was like we have the privilege to go take flyballs on a big league field or hear guys talk, it was never forced upon," Duke said.
Duke’s big-league journey has just begun, he was only called up by the White Sox in early June, so he’s still getting his feet under him. That’s where it helps to have a former MLB player for a dad. Robert’s been helping him try and take that next step to become a major league regular, by helping Duke focus on the biggest strength of his game: his base running ability.
"And so I think that bled over into him with you know, paying attention to guys who are really good at it. And he obviously can take advantage for guys who are not good at it," Robert said.
Now trying to make a name for himself in the big leagues, Duke has a lot of things he wants to say to his dad but, the most important thing: thank you.
"Just giving me one more step, one more step, one more step, one more step. And to have him carry me along and be there for me, it's awesome," Duke said.