Friday, December 16, 2005
Duncan taking new opportunity in stride
12/06/2005
DALLAS -- When the Yankees dealt for Alex Rodriguez before the 2004 season, it would have been easy to assume that Eric Duncan, the team's top third-base prospect, would have been devastated by the news.
Not exactly.
In addition to being the club's top hitting prospect, Duncan is a lifelong Yankees fan, so the acquisition of A-Rod actually got him excited.
"It was tough for me, because I'm a Yankees fan at heart," said Duncan, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on Wednesday. "They've been my favorite team since I was really young, so believe it or not, I was happy when they got Alex Rodriguez, to a certain degree. He's a great player, and now he's playing for my favorite team."
Of course, Rodriguez's arrival in New York meant that there would be a fixture at the hot corner for the next seven years, impeding Duncan's road to the Majors.
The Yankees, still excited by Duncan's ability at the plate, found a solution. They got him a first baseman's glove.
"They have probably the best player in baseball at third base right now," Duncan said, "so it's in all of our best interests for me to go to another position."
Duncan, the Yankees' No. 1 pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, struggled at times last season, hitting .235 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs in 126 games for Double-A Trenton.
He rebounded this fall, hammering everything he saw while playing in the Arizona Fall League. Duncan hit .362 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs, nine doubles, a .734 slugging percentage, 26 runs scored and a .423 on-base percentage, earning him the AFL's MVP Award, which was presented on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings.
"Mentally and physically, things just clicked for me. It worked out," Duncan said. "It was a lot of fun and a great atmosphere. I had a blast."
"We're ecstatic about the progress he made in the Fall League," said general manager Brian Cashman. "It was a great experience for him, especially after the season in Trenton. He's so young and so talented, and when it starts to come together, it comes quick."
Duncan also started his transition to first base, playing his new position on a semi-regular basis for the first time.
"I worked hard at it out there, and I'm still working hard at it," he said. "I've never played there before, but it's coming along."
Despite his young age, Duncan knows that being a hot prospect in the Yankees system can often lead to a trade. Last winter, he heard his name mentioned in nearly every Randy Johnson trade rumor, though the Yankees were able to acquire the left-hander without giving up Duncan.
With holes in center field and the bullpen, Duncan's name is sure to come up several more times, but he understands that it's simply part of the business.
"The way I look at it, this game is hard enough," he said. "My next at-bat, my next ground ball, they're hard enough. I can't be thinking about the future and getting too caught up in other things."
"He's one of our big chips," Cashman said. "Everybody is available in the right circumstance, but some certainly less than others. He's a valuable asset for the future. Whether it's for us or somebody else, that remains to be seen."
According to Cashman, the plan for Duncan in 2006 is to play first base at Triple-A Columbus. Whatever is thrown his way, he'll be ready for it.
"The competition at every level I've gone to, from rookie ball on up, has been an adjustment period," Duncan said. "Double-A, Triple-A, the big leagues, A-ball -- wherever I end up this year, I'll have to adjust to wherever I am."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
DALLAS -- When the Yankees dealt for Alex Rodriguez before the 2004 season, it would have been easy to assume that Eric Duncan, the team's top third-base prospect, would have been devastated by the news.
Not exactly.
In addition to being the club's top hitting prospect, Duncan is a lifelong Yankees fan, so the acquisition of A-Rod actually got him excited.
"It was tough for me, because I'm a Yankees fan at heart," said Duncan, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on Wednesday. "They've been my favorite team since I was really young, so believe it or not, I was happy when they got Alex Rodriguez, to a certain degree. He's a great player, and now he's playing for my favorite team."
Of course, Rodriguez's arrival in New York meant that there would be a fixture at the hot corner for the next seven years, impeding Duncan's road to the Majors.
The Yankees, still excited by Duncan's ability at the plate, found a solution. They got him a first baseman's glove.
"They have probably the best player in baseball at third base right now," Duncan said, "so it's in all of our best interests for me to go to another position."
Duncan, the Yankees' No. 1 pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, struggled at times last season, hitting .235 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs in 126 games for Double-A Trenton.
He rebounded this fall, hammering everything he saw while playing in the Arizona Fall League. Duncan hit .362 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs, nine doubles, a .734 slugging percentage, 26 runs scored and a .423 on-base percentage, earning him the AFL's MVP Award, which was presented on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings.
"Mentally and physically, things just clicked for me. It worked out," Duncan said. "It was a lot of fun and a great atmosphere. I had a blast."
"We're ecstatic about the progress he made in the Fall League," said general manager Brian Cashman. "It was a great experience for him, especially after the season in Trenton. He's so young and so talented, and when it starts to come together, it comes quick."
Duncan also started his transition to first base, playing his new position on a semi-regular basis for the first time.
"I worked hard at it out there, and I'm still working hard at it," he said. "I've never played there before, but it's coming along."
Despite his young age, Duncan knows that being a hot prospect in the Yankees system can often lead to a trade. Last winter, he heard his name mentioned in nearly every Randy Johnson trade rumor, though the Yankees were able to acquire the left-hander without giving up Duncan.
With holes in center field and the bullpen, Duncan's name is sure to come up several more times, but he understands that it's simply part of the business.
"The way I look at it, this game is hard enough," he said. "My next at-bat, my next ground ball, they're hard enough. I can't be thinking about the future and getting too caught up in other things."
"He's one of our big chips," Cashman said. "Everybody is available in the right circumstance, but some certainly less than others. He's a valuable asset for the future. Whether it's for us or somebody else, that remains to be seen."
According to Cashman, the plan for Duncan in 2006 is to play first base at Triple-A Columbus. Whatever is thrown his way, he'll be ready for it.
"The competition at every level I've gone to, from rookie ball on up, has been an adjustment period," Duncan said. "Double-A, Triple-A, the big leagues, A-ball -- wherever I end up this year, I'll have to adjust to wherever I am."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
