A bit of minor league news while we’re waiting for an official announcement on the Yankees non-tender class of 2009.
Former first-round pick Eric Duncan has signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. When I talked to Duncan a few days ago, he was close to a deal but it wasn’t finished. He’s expecting to be assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves could use Duncan as a corner utility man, using him at first, third, left field and designated hitter, kind of like he was used this year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Braves previously re-signed another third baseman, Wes Timmons, to a minor league deal.
Duncan was selected by the Yankees in the 1st Round (27th overall) of the 2003 MLB Draft. He was originally drafted as a third basemen, but later converted to first base after A-Rod joined the Yankees. That’s a long time ago..right? Baseball America named him the Yankees 2005 highest prospect, but nothing came of it. He still hasn’t gotten a major league at-bat.
This guy was once a highly touted prospect, but he didn’t seem to ever dominate at any level and it took him a long time to move up the ranks. He played for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees in the New York Yankees organization from 2007 on, and was later released on November 17, 2009.
Kevin Rozell
M. B. Rozell
Ray Rothfeldt
Eduardo Perez
