Brian Duensing

2015 Highlights
• Made 55 relief appearances with Minnesota, despite spending 15 days on the disabled list (April 17-May 2) with a right intercostal strain. 
• Allowed just one home run in first 43 appearances (33.2 IP), a two-run shot to Miguel Cabrera on May 14 at Detroit. 
• Between June 15-August 31, ranked second in opponents' batting average (.169) and eighth in ERA (1.71) among A.L. relievers that worked at least 25.0 innings in that span. 
• Posted an 11-game scoreless streak between June 13 and July 25, which spanned 13.2 innings.
• Earned his second career save on April 10 at the Chicago White Sox, tossing the final 1.1 frames.
• Made his 300th Major League appearance on April 9 at Detroit, tossing 1.0 inning
• At the end of the 2015 season, Ranked 3rd among all lefties in MLB appearances since 2012 with 245 games pitched
2014: Posted a 0.84 ERA (10.2 IP, 1 ER) in nine April appearances…18 of first 20 appearances were scoreless including a string of 10 straight appearances May 5-29 (7.0 IP)…Posted a 2.52 ERA (35.2 IP, 10 ER) in 36 appearances Pre-All-Star break, the sixth best ERA in the AL among left-handed relievers (minimum 30.0 IP). A Did not allow a home run in 23 straight appearances (19.0 IP) June 10-August 15…Posted a 0.96 ERA (9.1 IP, 1 ER) in 11 July appearances…In total he appeared in 62 games, the second most of his career...49 of 62 appearances on the season were scoreless…Led all Twins relievers in ERA (3.31) and ranked fourth in appearances…Given the Carl R. Pohlad Community Service Award voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA.
2013: Posted a 1.76 ERA (15.1 IP, 3 ER) in first 16 appearances... Earned first career save May 28 vs. Milwaukee, pitching a scoreless 14th inning...Did not allow a home run in first 35 appearances (26.1 IP) May 1-June 21, before allowing one to Derek Dietrich June 25 at Miami; the streak went back to August 30, 2012, a span of 47 games (48.1 IP)...won both games of the split doubleheader August 9 at Chicago-AL, tossing 0.1 innings and 1.0 innings respectively; first MLB pitcher to win both games of a doubleheader since Yankees' Luis Vizcaino July 21, 2007...Appeared in 73 games, tied for seventh most in the American League, the most among left-handers...tied for seventh most appearance ever by a Twins left-hander.
2012: Opened season in Twins bullpen, marking fourth straight season on club's Opening Day roster...posted ERA of 1.71 (21.0 IP, 4 ER) and an opponent batting average of .178 (13-for-73) with no home runs allowed in first 19 appearances April 6-May 20...earned first win, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings June 2 at Cleveland...inserted into rotation and made first start June 23 at Cincinnati...went 0-4, 10.13 ERA (13.1 IP, 15 ER) in four starts June 23-July 15 before returning to bullpen...inserted back into rotation for seven starts July 29-August 30; earned first win as starter July 29 vs. Cleveland, allowing one run on five hits in 6.0 innings - first win as a starter since August 28, 2011 vs. Detroit...set career-high with 54th appearance September 29 vs. Detroit; finished with 55 appearances...went 2-4, 3.47 ERA (57.0 IP, 22 ER) in 44 relief appearances and 2-8, 6.92 ERA (52.0 IP, 40 ER) in 11 starts.
PERSONAL: Brian Matthew Duensing was signed by the Baltimore Orioles on May 25th 2016 to a minor league free agent deal…Originally selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 2005 MLB draft…Prior to turning professional, attended University of Nebraska where he was Collegiate Baseball honorable mention All-American, Big 12 All-Freshman team and NCAA Lincoln All-Regional team in 2002...went 17-2, 3.67 ERA (184.0 IP, 75 ER) with 59 walks and 136 strikeouts in 45 career games (26 starts) for the Cornhuskers...Pitched for Team USA in 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China... active supporter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as he participates in the Lefties Lunkers fishing tournament and the Light The Night Walk, which helps raise awareness for Luekemia and Lymphoma.

*Courtesy Cubs.com