Brain cancer claims former 1st rounder

Chris Duncan, a former 1st round pick who spent three seasons in the DMBL, died Friday after battling brain cancer for several years. He was 38.

A lefty-swinging platoon first baseman who also saw time in the outfield, Duncan was drafted 7th overall in 2007 by the Hoboken Cutters. He went one pick after Hillsborough tapped RP Takashi Saito and before 2B Dan Uggla was picked by the now-defunct South Boston Gang.

Duncan spent three seasons in Hoboken but it was his rookie campaign that was most memorable, with career highs across the board. He slugged 32 HR with 102 RBI and .297/.385/.605, helping the Cutters to an 86-76 record and their first playoff appearance in five seasons (as a No. 5 seed Hoboken would exit in four games against Honolulu).

Duncan followed up that rookie year with a respectable 22-HR, 64-RBI sophomore campaign despite batting just .221/.316/.445. But after only seeing action in 28 games in 2009, Duncan was cut weeks before the trade deadline and never latched on with another franchise.

He finished his DMBL career with 57 HR and 172 RBI, batting .260/.351/.522 in just 291 games, including 135 in his rookie season.