ATLANTA, GA – JULY 15: The Atlanta Braves logo on a hat against the Chicago White Sox on July 15, 2023 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
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Atlanta’s acquisition of 26-year-old rookie right-hander Duncan Davitt was initially tied to a separate roster transaction involving a familiar name. However, the pitcher’s highly unusual major league debut had already established his own unique narrative.
The Braves secured Davitt shortly after a remarkable debut moment in the American League, trading away a seven-year veteran catcher in the process.
“Atlanta acquired him from the White Sox on trade deadline day in exchange for Joey Bart,” Anthony Franco reported for MLB Trade Rumors. “The transaction was primarily aimed at alleviating a future roster crunch by moving Bart, rather than adding Davitt, whom Chicago had designated for assignment just hours before the deal.”
In truth, the deal brought negligible change to the Braves’ pitching rotation, as Davitt was quickly claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.
“The San Francisco Giants made the following roster moves today: RHP Duncan Davitt claimed off waivers from Atlanta and optioned to Triple-A Sacramento,” the Giants announced on Wednesday.
Although Davitt’s tenure with the Braves was brief, his unique debut moment earlier in the season remains noteworthy.
“Stop the presses: Duncan Davitt made his Major League debut Friday night for the White Sox during a 2-0 victory for the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium,” Scott Merkin reported for MLB.com. “Davitt, 26, actually made history on Thursday during the series opener, despite never taking the mound. It is an unofficial kind of history, but fascinating nonetheless. Davitt became the first player to be recalled from the Minor Leagues, departing from Triple-A Charlotte, and then wrote about that very call-up in his column entitled ‘Call to the Bullpen’ on the same day.”
Davitt was able to publish his perspective on the call-up so quickly because the outlet that carried the column, the Indianola Independent Advocate, is owned by his parents, Amy Duncan and Mark Davitt.
That unusual sequence marked a long ascent through professional baseball for Davitt. The Tampa Bay Rays originally selected him before trading him to the White Sox in 2025 as part of a deal that sent Adrian Houser to Chicago. He spent the rest of that season in Triple-A Charlotte before securing a spot on Chicago’s 40-man roster.
His major league debut finally arrived in April, when he pitched a scoreless inning against Kansas City. Having appeared in just two MLB games, his new opportunity with San Francisco represents another chance to establish himself.
The emotional weight of finally reaching the majors was captured in a historic piece published by his parents’ newspaper.
“It is a whirlwind of emotions being told you have achieved a lifelong dream,” Davitt wrote.
That dream has now brought Davitt to a third organization in roughly a year. He posted a 6.29 ERA across 73 Triple-A innings this season, but his 24% strikeout rate and six-pitch arsenal provide the Giants with another arm to develop.
San Francisco has optioned Davitt to Triple-A Sacramento, meaning his next major league opportunity may not come immediately. Still, after an unconventional debut and multiple roster turns, the brief Braves pitcher has another chance to prove that his major league story is only just beginning.
