Ep. 28 - Eric Duncan: Attention to Detail, It's About the People, Building Relationships & Trust

Eric Duncan is a field coordinator with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the 27th overall selection in the 2003 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees and went on to play parts of 10 seasons in the Yankees, Braves, Cardinals, and Royals organizations.

He is a former Gatorade High School Player of the Year in New Jersey and MVP of the Arizona Fall League. Prior to his role with the Blue Jays, he coached in the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins organizations, serving as the Marlins Hitting Coach.

Dunc was the volunteer assistant at Seton Hall while I was there from 2013-2016.

What You’ll Learn About:

• If you’re going to do something, be prepared and don’t half ass it
• Attention to detail, caring about the little things, taking pride in your work  
• Staying where your feet are and staying process-oriented
• Having an appreciation for how hard the game is as a Coach
• It’s all about the people
• If you want to go quickly go by yourself, you want to go far go with others
• Impacting players' lives after the game as a Coach

Timestamps:

(0:00) – Intro to Eric Duncan

(3:00) – Dunc’s brother Aaron

(4:25) – Relationship with his parents

(5:30) – Growing up in California

(6:45) – Paul O’Neill

(8:00) – There’s people out there working as hard as you

(9:10) – Seton Hall Prep / Mike Sheppard

(11:15) – Getting drafted by the Yankees

(13:30) – Signing in the first round

(15:15) – Sacrifices you have to make

(17:45) – Hot start to his career

(19:50) – Arizona Fall League - Rising to the level of your competition

(23:25) – Mindset during the low points

(24:40) – Easy to not be where your feet are 

(26:10) – It’s ok to be obsessed with something

(28:20) – Most important parts of coaching

(31:00) – Retiring and going back to school

(32:20) – Opportunity to coach with Yankees

(34:30) – Always want to be a coach?

(35:50) – Qualities of successful organizations and coaches

(38:10) – Building trust and relationships

(40:30) – Relationships taking Dunc to next opportunity

(41:50) – Goals as a coach

(43:20) – Go quickly by yourself vs. Going Far with Others

(44:30) – Mental Performance in baseball today

(46:30) – Wife and daughters

(48:25) – Matty G

(49:40) – Making an impact on lives as a Coach