Cubs' Duncan excels as closer in winter ball.(Chicago Tribune)

MESA, Ariz._The details are murky, and that's how Courtney Duncan wants to keep them.

That mind-set helps him deal with the recent tragedy that shocked his family.

Here's what Duncan knows: His older brother, Thomas, was in Meridian, Miss., on Oct. 30 when something went terribly wrong. Thomas killed his pregnant wife and then turned the gun on himself.

Just like that, Duncan went from an aspiring Cubs pitcher to a bewildered 26-year-old man.

"I don't know if it was premeditated," Duncan said. "I didn't want to read [about] it. To find out more, I don't think it would do any good."

After excelling as a closer last year at Class AA …