Shushkewich: Duncan collects JNT MVP Award, now aiming for 95.6 mph
Langley Blaze lefty Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) holds the Russell Martin Award he captured at the Baseball Canada Awards Banquet on Saturday night as Junior National Team MVP. Photo: Langley Blaze
January 16, 2025
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
Left-hander Sean Duncan is no stranger to the bright lights.
The 16-year-old from Port Coquitlam, B.C. has been playing all over the country this past year and even took his talents down to the Dominican Republic with the Junior National Team in October.
However, on Saturday at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, Duncan was under the bright lights once again but on a different stage. The Langley Blaze product received the prestigious Russell Martin Award (Junior National Team MVP) at the Baseball Canada Awards Banquet and Fundraiser, with the former Jays catcher in attendance to hand out the hardware.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Duncan, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “I worked super hard all last year and competed as hard as I could and to work with the Junior National Team all year long was a blessing. I have been with this team for two years now and I saw Myles (Naylor) take home this award before and I told myself that I wanted to win that at some point as well, and it’s an amazing feeling to bring that realization to life.”
Langley Blaze left-hander Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) is presented with his jersey and Russell Martin Award, as Junior National Team MVP, at the Baseball Canada Awards Banquet on Saturday night. Photo: Langley Blaze
Duncan has been busy this year, starting with the Junior National Team’s Dominican Pro Academy Camp in May, where he was the youngest player on the roster (the only one born in 2008). Despite his age, he took the ball for the first game of the schedule against the Houston Astros DSL squad, going three strong innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while registering four strikeouts.
Duncan would later be named to the JNT roster for the U18 Pan American Championship taking place in Panama in early August. The southpaw got the nod against a tough Team Mexico squad and held them to two earned runs through 4 2/3 innings. Duncan would be credited with the win, as Canada upset Mexico 4-3.
The B.C. native also found himself pitching four innings of scoreless relief against Puerto Rico five days later in Canada’s quarterfinals loss. He would finish the tournament with a 2.42 ERA across 8 2/3 innings.
“Playing Mexico in Panama, it was such a close game and it was such an honour to be handed the ball to try to get the win that day,” said Duncan. “We were all hyped up in the dugout and just kept grinding to get that win. On the bus ride back to the hotel, we sang O’Canada all the way back. It was such a sweet experience that I got to share with my teammates.”
He later found himself at the Rogers Centre for the Canadian Futures Showcase in September, his third appearance at the national event. Making the start against Team Royal, Duncan didn’t allow a walk or a hit through three innings of work, tacking on five strikeouts before being taken out of the game. For his effort, he earned Player of the Game honours. He would later be named to the prospects game and started for Team Encarnacion, putting zeroes on the board through his lone inning of work.
Duncan rounded out the year suiting up for the Junior National Team in the Fall Instructional camp, with the squad heading back down to the Dominican Republic to face pro teams.
He faced the San Francisco Giants DIL squad and held his opponents off the scoreboard early, facing the minimum number of batters through five innings. The left-hander struck out seven and allowed one walk but picked the runner off first base. Duncan made a second start against the Milwaukee Brewers DIL squad before the trip wrapped up and he tossed another perfect four innings, allowing zero runs while striking out two.
“The whole trip was special,” said Duncan. “It was a new crop of guys and just being able to make new friends and being able to play with a different group this time around, it was an exciting time. One of my good buddies from Langley, Nolan Weinmayer, it was his first trip down to the Dominican and getting to experience that with him was such a fun time. I made a ton of new friends that trip.”
Duncan has committed to Vanderbilt University, which is known for developing outstanding big league pitchers, including David Price, Sonny Gray and Walker Buehler. Photo: Vanderbilt Athletics
On top of all the activity on the field, Duncan also committed to the University of Vanderbilt. The decision was one that many within his inner circles knew was likely coming but he still did his homework amongst the numerous offers that flooded his mailbox.
The top-ranking 2026 draft product per the Canadian Baseball Network, Duncan was one of the top uncommitted Canucks heading into the fall months.
“Since I was nine, I have wanted to go to Vanderbilt,” said Duncan. “My family friend, Max Mitzel, I thought he was the coolest guy ever and he would come over wearing Vanderbilt hoodies and would give them to me over time. I have been wearing their gear for years. I got the call to come check out their program and their facilities and I immediately clicked with Coach Corbin and Coach Brown and their philosophies and how they ran things down there. My mom even said that she was OK with leaving me there, which I think is the biggest check mark one could get.”
Looking ahead, the 2025 season will likely see Duncan donning the Maple Leaf on his chest while he continues to suit up for the Langley Blaze. While he isn’t eligible for the MLB draft this season, Duncan has been putting in the work early this winter with a long year ahead of him on the mound.
“I just want to get bigger and stronger and keep building off of what I put together last year,” explained Duncan. “I’ve had a few velo days already and my PR has already jumped up out of the gate, I was sitting 93 (MPH) and now I am hitting 94.7, which is great to see. I just want to keep working on all my pitches and overall, just continue getting better.”
One thing on his mind? A specific Canadian Futures Showcase record.
“95.6 – I am coming for it,” Duncan said with a smile.