David Duncan had his draft status clouded after he was issued a citation for underage alcohol consumption March 28, an event that came out three weeks later in a newspaper report.
Duncan was temporarily suspended from the New Richmond (Ohio) High team, reinstated three days later, suspended again--this time for the remainder of the season--and again re-instated pending a hearing with Duncan's father, his attorney and on the school board.
Duncan's father John, who is also an assistant coach at New Richmond, said the school's principal, Dianna Spinnati, "did an investigation with the officer who (issued the citation) and decided to make her decision on that instead of what the county prosecutor and the judge had already ruled on."
Principal Spinnati did not return calls from Baseball America.
Duncan, a 6-foot-8, 190-pound lefthander, pitched March 20, picking up a win with 14 strikeouts, and awaited final ruling, which would be made at the hearing, scheduled for April 23.
"(The school's) decision was to go before the superintendent and everything should be clean and cleared by Saturday," John Duncan said. "If not, New Richmond's going to pay a dear price. If they know what’s best for them, he’ll be (reinstated)."
The matter was confusing for scouts trying to make travel plans to evaluate Duncan.
"The whole thing is real unfortunate," a National League scout said. "I've met with the kid a couple times. He seems like a real good kid with good parents. He relates well with people. It's just a shame."
Scouts in Ohio considered Duncan’s makeup a plus before the incident. He was having a strong season, showing a fastball that hits 90-91 mph consistently. He also throws a split-finger fastball, changeup and curveball.
He picked up his 300th career strikeout in his debut in early April, tossing a complete game no-hitter with 14 strikeouts on 91 pitches in a 5-0 victory over Bethel High of Tipp City, Ohio. He was 4-0, 0.00 with 52 strikeouts and four walks and eight hits in 26 innings spanning four appearances this season.