| Daniel Lynch IV | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Lynch IV with theOmaha Storm Chasers in 2021 | |
| Kansas City Royals – No. 41 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-11-17)November 17, 1996 (age 29) Richmond, Virginia,United States | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 3, 2021, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 19–25 |
| Earned run average | 4.56 |
| Strikeouts | 295 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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Daniel Aloysius Lynch IV (born November 17, 1996) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theKansas City Royals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.
Lynch played baseball atDouglas S. Freeman High School inHenrico, Virginia. As a junior, he compiled a 0.97 ERA.[1] After high school, he enrolled at theUniversity of Virginia where he played for theVirginia Cavaliers baseball team.[2] During his freshman year at Virginia, he appeared in 13 games with nine starts and went 1–3 with a 5.49earned run average (ERA) and 37strikeouts. As a sophomore, he made 14 starts, going 7–5 with a 5.00 ERA with 45 strikeouts. The following summer in 2017, he pitched for theOrleans Firebirds of theCape Cod League, where he made six starts and posted a 4–0 record with a 2.04 ERA and 25 strikeouts and was named a league all-star.[3][4] During his junior season, Lynch went 4–4 over the course of 13 starts with a 3.96 ERA and 105 strikeouts.[5]
Lynch was selected by theKansas City Royals with the 34th overall pick in the2018 Major League Baseball draft.[6] He signed with the Royals on June 10, 2018, for $1.7 million.[7] He made his professional debut with theBurlington Royals of theRookie-levelAppalachian League[8] before being promoted to theLexington Legends of theSingle–ASouth Atlantic League. In 12 starts between the two clubs, he went 5–1 with a 1.58 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.[9]
Lynch spent 2019 with theWilmington Blue Rocks of theHigh–ACarolina League and was named a Carolina League All-Star midway through the season.[10][11] Over 15 starts, he went 5–2 with a 3.10 ERA. He was selected to play in theArizona Fall League for theSurprise Saguaros following the season,[12] earning All-Star honors.[13] He did not play any minor league games in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[14]
On May 2, 2021, the Royals announced that Lynch would be promoted for the next day's game and be the starting pitcher against theCleveland Indians.[15] Lynch was officially added to the40-man roster on May 3, and given the number 52.[15] He finished his rookie campaign making 15 starts for the Royals, posting a 4–6 record and 5.19 ERA with 55 strikeouts across 68.0 innings of work.[16] In 2022, Lynch made 27 starts for Kansas City, registering a 4–13 record and 5.13 ERA with 122 strikeouts in131+2⁄3 innings pitched.[17]
After missing the first two months of the 2023 season with a left shoulder strain, Lynch was placed back on the injured list with the same ailment on July 19, 2023.[18] In his time on the active roster in between IL stint, he had recorded a 4.64 ERA with 34 strikeouts in52+1⁄3 innings across 9 starts. Lynch was transferred to the 60–day injured list on September 6.[19]
Lynch was optioned to the Triple–AOmaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2024 season.[20]
On July 18, 2023, Lynch added thesuffixIV to his name, honoring his father and grandfather. In doing so, he became the first player in MLB history to play with the suffix IV on his jersey.[21]