Nationals Hope to Harness Dukes' Anger

Talented player has threatened his family, attacked teammates
By Mitch Pritchard,  Newser Staff
Posted May 18, 2008 6:43 AM CDT
Nationals Hope to Harness Dukes' Anger
Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes fields a ball on the first full squad workout at baseball spring training in Viera, Fla., Friday, Feb. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Elijah Dukes hit a home run against the New York Yankees in his first major league at-bat. A few weeks later, the then-Tampa Bay Devil Ray threatened to kill his estranged wife and their two young children. That about sums up how Dukes' career has gone, reports ESPN. “Why is he so angry? That's the million-dollar question. You answer that, you start to fix Elijah Dukes," said former teammate Ryan Knox.

Knox is a former minor-league teammate of Dukes, who was almost strangled to death by the 22-year-old player. Dukes, who was traded the Washington Nationals in December, has been arrested seven times in his native Florida since he was 13. He has been suspended at least once in all five of his professional seasons. His talent, however, has also been compared to Bo Jackson. (More Tampa Bay Rays stories.)

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