FREDERICK, Md. (Map, News) - After an off-season in Africa, the death of two grandparents and a hospital stint for a debilitating blood condition, the last place one might expect to find Jake Duncan is a baseball field.

“There have been a lot of reminders recently of death and how we are all going to face it,” he said. “It just reminds me take each day more preciously.”

As the Frederick Keys take the field each day, the brown-haired right fielder is there, running alongside the rest of his teammates.

After Duncan turned 18 he began to be inspired by religion. Since that time he has been a missionary in Guinea, Africa, and won the Elrod Hendricks minor league community service award. The left-handed hitting Texas native is one of the few players who have as much pride in his work off the field as he does on the field.

“Africa was unbelievable. It was a wake-up call in and of itself,” said Duncan, who grew up Baptist and now attends a non-denominational church. “I have never thanked God for having running water until I came back from Africa.”

Duncan is batting .266 with four homers. The somewhat slow start could be accredited to the blood clot that formed in his right leg during the off-season.

According to teammates you would never hear Duncan complain about his lack of performance.

“He is one of those guys you look forward to seeing every day,” third baseman Brian Bass said. “Bad game, good game, he is the same guy.”

For someone who has been through three life-altering events in the last two years, his teammates find it hard to tell a difference with the even-keeled prospect.

“He is not the kind of guy who shies away from a conversation if he goes 0-4 or 4-4,” pitcher Tony Neal said. “He was struggling before, and now that he is on fire he just hasn’t changed. He’s that type of person.”

Throughout all of the turmoil in the past three years, Duncan has always been willing to share his experiences with teammates.

“It’s been nice to be able to talk to the guys about how short life can be and how we don’t know if we are going to have tomorrow,” he said.

THE DUNCAN FILE

Age: 24

College: Texas Christian University

Did you know? Duncan has to use a leg pump while he sleeps to keep blood circulating through his right leg. He said he bought soothing waterfall music for his roommates so the pump’s noise does not keep them awake.

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:22 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 25, 2007 re: "'Wise beyond his years'"

mike johnson said:
As Steve's very proud uncle, let me correct the reporter's facts. Steven is indeed not a Brooklandville native. He grew up in Chase/Middle River then his family moved to Kingsville. Can't wait to see him pitch in the Yard one day!

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9:38 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 22, 2007 re: "Toronto �Banks� future on local hurler"

Examiner Reader said:
AND he plays for Toronto WHY? Come on Orioles check our our own back yard!

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