Calgary Vipers 2005 MVP Carlos Duncan completed the Colombian Winter League season on Monday. Although his team, the Cardinales, were beaten in the championship series Duncan was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Competing in a league that features numerous major league and Triple-A players Duncan swept all major categories. He led the league in home runs, runs batted in, batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, fielding average and stolen bases.

Playing through numerous injuries during the 2006 season and in only 78 of the Vipers 96 games Duncan still led the team with 59 RBI and 33 stolen bases.

“Obviously Carlos is in incredible shape”, said Vipers Field Manager Mike Busch from the Dominican Republic. “If he can dominate the Colombian League he should be in for an incredible season in Calgary”.

Dominican Camp

Duncan will arrive back in San Pedro de Macoris this evening where he will join his skipper and Vipers owner Jeff Gidney for a free agent workout and children’s clinic. Busch and Duncan will have a look at over 20 free agents over a two day period. The Vipers duo also took with them more than thirty baseball gloves to be distributed to youngsters in the Dominican Republic who often use cardboard as a glove replacement.

Big Mac is Back

The Vipers also announced the signing of third baseman Aaron McEachran to a 2007 contract. The versatile third baseman who also saw some action at first base in 2006 had 57 RBI, 9 home runs and a .415 slugging percentage last summer. He was also started the Northern League All-Star game in Kansas City as a representative of the Vipers.

Construction Ahead of Schedule

Vipers’ president Peter Young also announced that the remodeling of Foothills Stadium is ahead of schedule. “The entire upper level of the stadium will be completed by this Friday’, said Young. “Every seat in the grandstand will be just that, a seat. All of the red chairs previously in the lower level have been moved up top to replace the bleachers. The platform for the new catered Club Seating section has also been finished with only the glass front and table tops to be added”.

By March 1st almost 2500 new chairs will arrive from American Seating with installation expected to be completed by April 1st.

As well a new food court has already been completed with installation expected in early April. And finally, a new backstop with fewer support poles will be erected late in March.

“We had some early concerns about scheduling conflicts with the University of Calgary Dinos baseball program”, added Young. “Now we will not only have the park ready for their spring schedule but also for the Calgary Minor Softball Opening Ceremonies and the annual Henry Burris event in May.”

The Vipers open their training camp on Thursday, May 3. They will host their annual Free Agent Tryout Camp, Open House and Job Fair on Saturday, May 5. The team will then head out on the road for pre-season games in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Fargo and Schaumburg before opening the regular season in Joliet. The Vipers home opener will be Friday, May 25 against the Joliet JackHammers.