Chris Duncan

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Chris Duncan
Chris Duncan with the Washington Nationals
Duncan with the Washington Nationals
Left fielder
Born: (1981-05-05) May 5, 1981 (age 43)
Tucson, Arizona
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2005, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
July 20, 2009, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average .257
Home runs 55
Runs batted in 175
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Duncan batting for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007.

Christopher Edwin Duncan (born May 5, 1981) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman.

He is the youngest son of Dave Duncan, a former catcher and retired pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. His older brother, Shelley, is also a first baseman and outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He is currently a co-host with Anthony Stalter on a mid-day radio program on the St. Louis ESPN Radio Affiliate, WXOS called The Turn.

Early life

Duncan is a graduate of Canyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, Arizona. While there he was a teammate of Texas Rangers All-star second baseman Ian Kinsler.[1] He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (46th overall) in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft as a supplemental Pick for loss of Free Agent Delino DeShields to the Baltimore Orioles.

Minor League career

Duncan made his professional debut with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League shortly after his signing. For the season, he batted only .214 with six home runs. After seven seasons in the Cardinals' farm system, including the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, Duncan made his debut with the big club on September 10, 2005. On October 2, 2005, he became the last player to hit a home run at Busch Memorial Stadium during the regular season.

Cards' ROY

After spending most of the first half of the 2006 season working his way into the regular roster, Duncan hit very well and ended the season with impressive power numbers. In 2006, he was third in all of baseball behind David Ortiz and Ryan Howard in homers per at bat for players with at least 75 at bats. For the season, Duncan hit 22 home runs in only 280 at bats.

In the 2006 World Series, Duncan appeared in three of the five games, going 1 for 8 with one run batted in. He committed an error in the fourth inning of Game 5 which was promptly followed by a two-run homer by Sean Casey, and misplayed a fly ball by Casey, which was ruled a double, in the sixth inning. However, Duncan and the Cardinals won the game and the Series, defeating the Detroit Tigers four games to one. Following the 2006 season, Duncan was named the team's Rookie of the Year.[2]

2007

Duncan became a regular starter in 2007, playing 127 of the team's 162 games that season. He batted .259/.354/.480, hitting 21 home runs (2nd on team) and 70 RBI (2nd on team), and third in doubles (20). He started 90 games in the outfield, committing two errors, which was an improvement from 2006, when he committed 6 errors while playing in both right and left field. He also finished second in total bases (180). He led the team in strikeouts with 123.

On September 20, 2007, Duncan underwent surgery for a sports hernia. It was successful and he returned to the clubhouse on September 22. His brother, Shelley, also suffered a sports hernia; the brothers are very competitive and had been trying to outdo one another in their workouts.[citation needed]

Mark McGwire has served as his hitting coach since 2007.[3]

Season ending injury

In 2008, after hitting .252 in 127 at bats, Duncan was sent down to his former team, the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. Joe Mather took his spot on the Major League roster. Duncan was recalled in June to fill the hole at first base, which was left open after Albert Pujols went on the disabled list for a period of 15 days. He would spend most of his time in the outfield after Pujols returned to the lineup.

On July 22, Chris was placed on the disabled list after experiencing severe discomfort in his arm, hand, and neck. The club called the injury a "pinched nerve". On August 2, it was reported that Duncan would miss the rest of the 2008 season after having surgery to address a herniated cervical disk in his neck. He ended the season with a .248 batting average, 6 home runs, and 27 RBI over 222 at bats.

Trade to Red Sox

Duncan successfully recovered from the surgery that ended his 2008 season, however, hit only .227, with five homers and 32 RBIs in 260 at bats with the Cardinals, and began drawing the ire of Cardinals fans. On July 22, Duncan was optioned to the Cardinals' triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds. A day later, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox along with a player-to-be-named-later or cash for shortstop Julio Lugo (who had also fallen out of favor with his organization and its fans) and cash considerations.[4]

The BoSox assigned Duncan to their triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox.[5] After batting only .188 with two home runs and ten RBIs at Pawtucket, Boston released Duncan on August 21, 2009.

Washington Nationals

On January 19, 2010, Duncan signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals with an invite to spring training.

ESPN Radio

Since October 2, 2011, Duncan has been a host for WXOS, the ESPN Radio affiliate in St. Louis. He originally began on the nightly program "Stully and Duncan." On January 4, 2012, Chris was replaced by former Fast Lane commentator Bob Ramsey, making the show "Stully and Rammer", while he moved to co-host "The Fast Lane" with Randy Karraker and former Rams defensive tackle and Super Bowl XXXIV champion D'Marco Farr. He is currently a co-host of "The Turn" with Anthony Stalter. He has developed an avid following with his humor and player insight.

Personal life

In October 2012, Duncan was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As of March 2013, he was undergoing chemotherapy.[6]

Duncan also has 2 sisters. Tiffany Duncan and Devannie Duncan who both reside in Orange County, California.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights
  3. ↑ McGwire Talks About Teaching Hitting ESPN.com, March 13, 2009
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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