October 13, 2024

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

The black and gold of Nashville's prestigious private university was a part of Sean Duncan’s attire long before he accepted an offer there.

Growing up a B.C. boy with a dream of playing a high level of baseball, he had a Vanderbilt sweater in his closet as early as nine-years-old, he said.

Now, he’ll be able to put on a jersey and represent the Commodores not as a fan, but as a recently committed member of their baseball team.

The 16-year-old and current pitcher for the Langley Blaze committed last month, and will begin pitching for them in 2026. He’ll join a very selective and very tiny list of Canadians to wear a Vanderbilt baseball jersey, as the first Canadian pitcher, and the second all time to take the field for them. The first Canadian to play for them was outfielder Cooper Davis (Mississauga Ont.) in 2017.

His work ethic and command on the mound are far ahead of many of the players his age, said Langley Blaze general manager Doug Mathieson. He was ranked the top Canadian prospect in the 2026 high school class by Baseball America. He is also the No. 1 prospect on the 2026 Canadian Baseball Network Draft List.

“There's nobody that works harder than Sean, he's a student of the game,” Mathieson said. “He's a pitcher who not only can throw hard, he generates movement on the ball, he competes, he commands his pitches, it’s very advanced for a kid that age.”

That work ethic is also evident at home, where his mom, Lisa Duncan, has observed it firsthand for years.

He spends a lot of time practicing his motions in front of a mirror, making minor tweaks, or reviewing video footage to figure out what changes he needs to make to improve his performance on the mound, she said.

“Things that other kids might not think of as an important part of the process, Sean spent a lot of time doing,” she said.

That work ethic, combined with Duncan’s natural talent for the game, had many schools come calling on August 1.

The left hander, who’s played for the Junior National Team, had about 32 inquiries from different schools, including Florida, Arizona, and LSU. But Vanderbilt stuck out, in part because of a long-time family friend.

Max Mitzel was a Vanderbilt fan, and growing up, that rubbed off on Duncan. Mitzel was the coolest guy he’d ever met, Duncan said, “so if he liked Vanderbilt, I liked Vanderbilt.”

As a result, it’s been on his radar and his dream school for years, for the pitcher that has seen incredible growth over the past three years.

When he was first invited to attend the Canadian Futures Showcase at the Rogers Centre back in 2022, his velocity sat at around 82 mph, he said. This last year he attended the showcase, which displays the best amateur talent in the country, his velocity was up to 93 mph.

It’s a jump he credits to the Blaze coaching staff, and also the work he’s put in going to the gym five times a week to build up his strength.

Looking towards the future, he wants to continue on that upward trajectory. His goal for the next couple of years before he takes the field for Vanderbilt is to continue to improve on and off the field, Duncan said.

“Just you know, get to as best as I can get to by the time I'm in grade 12, and be the best person, best player I can be,” he said.