Matt Duffy joined the GLC program in the fall of 2017 and flourished from the beginning. Developing into a premier college prospect, Matt solidified himself as a "go to" type guy on every GLC team he has played on and was an instrumental piece of last years 17U CPBL Championship club. Matt's presence on the mound and his advanced feel to pitch caught the eye of the staff from Canisius College last spring. After a visit to the Buffalo campus, and other options to weigh, Matt made the decision in October that Canisius would be the best spot for him to continue his baseball and academic career beyond this season.

Matt, similar to many of our graduating seniors put an emphasis on education when seeking his post secondary fit and Canisius checked all the boxes for him. "For my family and I, the academic side of school was one of our top priorities as I’m obviously not only their to play baseball, but to receive a degree. It was important that I found a school with a great Physical/Health Education Program as my interest was to try and stay in the world of sport."

Director of Baseball Operations, Chris Robinson reflects on how Matt's choice to stay back and use his post grad year has been so beneficial for him in many areas of his game;

"Matt's always been a mature kid, but using the extra year has given him the opportunity to add more strength and refine his game in preparation for campus in the fall. We have seen Matt grow, develop resiliency and acquire a tremendous amount of dedication to his craft. He is a perfect example of how an extra year, done properly, can really benefit even the best of player. He has become a leader of not only his team, but the entire program, and we look forward to watching him finish his chapter here and move on to Canisius in what seems to be the perfect fit for him."

As Robinson mentions, Matt is looked upon as a leader for the entire program and he echoes what the GLC Staff tries to impress on it's players in his advice to the future GLC,

"My advice to younger GLC players is this: The workout and throwing plans that the coaches offer is a basis to keep you following the right path. The extra work you put in at home or anywhere outside of CFS is what elevates you above the rest"

17U Manager Brock Kjeldgaard had the following to say about Duffy, one of his CPBL Champions from the 2019 season, "I am excited to see Matthew excel this season and at Canisius. He has the opportunity to be a very good arm at the collegiate level. His added focus to the mound this off-season will prove extremely beneficial to his success moving forward".

Pitching Coordinators Shane Davis and Jon Fitzsimmons, both Canisius College Alumni, are very familiar with the path Matt is about to head down. They have been instrumental in helping Matt continue to develop on the field and were able to assist in giving him a good reference to their alma mater through the recruiting process. "When Canisius came out to watch one of our games, I pitched well and they began to contact me." Said Duffy. "Both Shane and Jon attended Canisius and were able to talk to the coaches for me. They put in a positive word and the rest is history."

The recruiting process and decision making process are history for Duffy, but what the future holds for the young GLC prospect is exciting. Being familiar with Canisius College and the college development process, five year professional player, Canisius alumnus and current GLC Pitching Coordinator feels Duffy is going to very successful in the next phase.

"Matt's one of those guys who will find find a way to achieve his goals no matter what they are. His work ethic and focus are beyond his years and it's shown in his development. He's always had great feel for the strike zone with his fastball and this off season he managed to add a changeup and slider to round out his four pitch mix. He's set him self up to get plenty of opportunities at the next level."

"I think Canisius is a great fit for him. On our fall trip he showed his ability to shut down Division I programs that are very comparable to the competition Canisius faces in their out of conference schedule. His discipline, work ethic, and approach on the mound are exactly what the Griffs look for in a pitcher. I think he'll be able to contribute to their success immediately."