Jon Christopher Duplantier (born July 11, 1994) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Hanshin Tigers The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team playing in the Central League. The team is based in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, next to their main stadium, Hanshin Koshien Stadium. The Tigers are owned by Hanshin Electric Railway Co., ...

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

(NPB). The

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

selected Duplantier in the third round of the

2016 Major League Baseball draft The 2016 Major League Baseball draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who ...

. He made his

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) debut in 2019 with the Diamondbacks.

Career

Amateur career

Duplantier attended

Seven Lakes High School } Seven Lakes High School (SLHS) is a public senior high school located in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, inside the Cinco Ranch area south of the city of Katy. Many communities such as Seven Meadows, Grand Lakes, and Cinco Ranch are zone ...

Katy, Texas Katy is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in the Greater Katy area, itself forming the western part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Homes and businesses may have Katy postal addresses without being in the City of Katy. The city ...

, and

Rice University William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University, is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912, the university spans 300 acres. Rice University comp ...

. He played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Rice Owls The Rice Owls are the sports teams representing Houston's Rice University in college sports. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest. Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics. A member of the American Athletic Conference, Rice sponsors ...

. After missing the 2015 season due to a shoulder injury, Duplantier returned in 2016, and was named the

Conference USA Conference USA (CUSA) is a collegiate athletic conference of member institutions in the Southern and Western United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports. CUSA's offices are located in Dallas, Texas. Mem ...

Pitcher of the Year.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The

selected Duplantier in the third round of the

. He made his professional debut with the

Hillsboro Hops The Hillsboro Hops are a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest, northwest United States, located in Hillsboro, Oregon, a city in the Portland metropolitan area. The Hops are members of the Northwest League and are the High-A affilia ...

in June 2016, and pitched one inning there, striking out the side. He started 2017 with the

Kane County Cougars The Kane County Cougars are a professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois, and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play their home games a ...

and was later promoted to the

Visalia Rawhide The Visalia Rawhide are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Visalia, California, and have played their home games at Valley Strong Ballpark since their ...

, posting a combined 12–3 record with a 1.39 ERA in 25 games, including 24 starts between both teams. He played in the 2017

All-Star Futures Game The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League- ...

. MLB Pipeline named him their Pipeline Pitcher of the Year. Duplantier spent the 2018 season pitching for the

Jackson Generals The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...

. In 14 starts, he went 5–1 with a 2.55 ERA. On April 1, 2019, Duplantier was called up to the major leagues for the first time, and made his major league debut. He recorded three scoreless innings in relief and earned a save. He finished the season with a 1–1 record in 15 games (three starts). Duplantier did not appear in a game with Arizona in 2020 and did not play in a minor league game due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. Duplantier was assigned to the Triple-A

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, w ...

to begin the 2021 season. He struggled to a 7.78 ERA in four games between Reno and the rookie-level

Arizona League Diamondbacks The Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team competing as a Rookie-level affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Salt River Fields a ...

, and fared worse in the majors, struggling to a 13.15 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings over four appearances. While pitching in the minor leagues, Duplantier suffered a season-ending lat strain. Since injured players cannot be placed on outright waivers, the Diamondbacks released Duplantier on July 27, 2021. On July 31, the Diamondbacks re-signed Duplantier to a minor league contract. He elected minor league free agency following the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On December 4, 2021, the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

signed Duplianter to minor league contract. On December 8, the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

selected Duplantier from the Giants in the minor league phase of the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. He appeared in 34 games (14 starts) for the Triple-A

Oklahoma City Dodgers The Oklahoma City Comets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their ho ...

during the 2022 season, with a 5–3 record and 4.80 ERA. Duplantier elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.

Philadelphia Phillies

On January 6, 2023, Duplantier signed a minor league contract with the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

organization. He made 3 starts for their Class-A Advanced affiliate, registering an 8.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts in innings pitched. On June 17, Duplantier was released by the Phillies.

New York Mets

On February 29, 2024, Duplantier signed a minor league contract with the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

. In 16 games for the Triple–A

Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which ope ...

, he posted a 5.31 ERA with 22 strikeouts across innings pitched. On June 13, Duplantier was released by the Mets organization.

Lake Country DockHounds

On July 11, 2024, Duplantier signed with the

Lake Country DockHounds The Lake Country DockHounds are a professional baseball team that is based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The DockHounds currently play in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. Lake Co ...

of the

American Association of Professional Baseball The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor ...

. He made four starts for them, pitching 18 innings without allowing an earned run.

Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)

On August 5, 2024, Duplantier signed a minor league contract with the

. He made one start for the Double–A

Tulsa Drillers The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club. Stadium The Drillers play at ONEOK Field (pronounc ...

and six for the Triple–A

Oklahoma City Baseball Club The Oklahoma City Comets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their home games at Chickasaw Bricktown Bal ...

, where he had a 3–2 record and 3.56 ERA in innings. In his final start of the season, against the

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team that plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Based in South Jordan, Utah, the team plays its home games at The Ballpark at Am ...

, on September 18, Duplantier struck out a career–high 12 batters in six perfect innings. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.

Hanshin Tigers

On November 25, 2024, Duplantier signed a minor league contract with the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

. He was released by the organization on December 16 and signed with the

the same day.https://x.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1868711792798781850

References

External links

Jon Duplantier
Rice Owls bio * {{DEFAULTSORT:Duplantier, Jon 1994 births Living people African-American baseball players American expatriate baseball players in Japan Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks players Arizona Diamondbacks players Hanshin Tigers players Hillsboro Hops players Jackson Generals (Southern League) players Jersey Shore BlueClaws players Kane County Cougars players Lake Country DockHounds players Major League Baseball pitchers Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Oklahoma City Baseball Club players Oklahoma City Dodgers players Reno Aces players Rice Owls baseball players Salt River Rafters players Sportspeople from Newark, Delaware Baseball players from New Castle County, Delaware Syracuse Mets players Tulsa Drillers players Visalia Rawhide players 21st-century African-American sportsmen