​The sports culture in Texas is inexplicable to non-natives.Jake Duer certainly can speak to that. Duer, who was born in Los Angeles but spent seven years during his childhood in Stony Point, had quite the culture shock to contend with.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuer was a star for the Stony Point All-Stars travel Little League program, which, in 2014, lost in the New York State championship to Maine-Endwell. Two years later, Maine-Endwell won the Little League World Series.But directly after Stony Point flirted with a state title, Duer’s mom got a job in Texas, prompting the family to head south late in 2014.”(Jake) was young so it was tough for us to leave,” Joe Duer, Jake’s father, said. “It was a hard decision leaving after that season because we were so invested in that team.”However, changing states ended up introducing the family to a new level of play on the diamond, one that fueled his lifelong goal of playing professional baseball.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”My goal in life, and I told my dad about it at a young age, was to play professional baseball,” Duer said. “He just took that to heart and moved us to where baseball’s at its hottest, and that’s Texas.”On Sunday, nearly 12 years later, the gamble finally paid off. After a four-year college career, split between three schools, Duer was picked in the 18th round, 536th overall, by the Arizona Diamondbacks.“My heart started going a million miles per second,” Duer said. “Honestly, it was a dream come true.”1 / 17Jul 3, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss (22) walks to the mound for a pitching change against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images(Jordan Godfree, Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images)The moment was all the more meaningful to the 23-year-old outfielder because of his journey through amateur baseball. Upon moving, Duer had his entire world flipped. While it proved to pay great dividends, Duer’s introduction to the Lone Star State came with an adjustment period.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I was nervous,” Duer said. “I had my entire childhood with the same group of kids and the same core group of friends who I always hung out with. Then, boom, I’m starting middle school in another state. That was definitely nerve-wracking for me, and I felt disconnected from the culture.”Duer grew to appreciate his new home, as it shared a similar love for baseball as he did. He attended Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas — a suburb of Dallas — before going on to play at Texas Christian University (TCU) for two seasons.Even in high school, the level of interest placed on baseball in Texas was a stark contrast from the quiet scene that he was accustomed to in Rockland County.“I flew one of my friends from the Northeast down to catch a game, and he was blown away by the difference,” Duer said. “For an outsider, he said he’s never exp