BOSTON -- It is perhaps too easy to fall into the trap of thinking Jarren Duran’s magnificent 2024 season was an outlier and that he won’t approach those numbers this season, given his modest start. Upon further review, Duran’s start to the 2024 season was eerily similar. Here are the numbers for his first 46 games of 2024 and his first 46 games of ’25: 2024: 187 AB, 23 runs, 51 hits, 13 doubles, six triples, two homers, 18 RBIs, 18 walks, 45 strikeouts, slash line of .273/.344/.439
2025: 202 AB, 24 runs, 53 hits, 10 doubles, five triples, three homers, 27 RBIs, 11 walks, 48 strikeouts, slash line of .262/.309/.406 |
The most noticeable difference is the on-base percentage. Duran hasn’t been as selective this season. Other than that, things are pretty much as they were at this time last year. Of course, Duran finished 2024 slashing .285/.342/.492 with 111 runs, 191 hits, 48 doubles, 14 triples, 21 homers and 75 RBIs. This week, Duran has started to resemble the player he turned into during an All-Star 2024 season. He was in the middle of everything as the Red Sox engineered their best comeback victory of the season on Saturday against the Braves, rallying from deficits of 5-0 and 6-2. There was Duran with a two-run shot to straightaway center to give Boston its first shot of life in that game. And there was Duran with a two-out, two-run single to right in the eighth that tied the game and set up Rafael Devers for the first walk-off homer of his career in the bottom of the ninth. |
When the Red Sox were preparing for their matchup against Chris Sale on Friday night, manager Alex Cora was watching his team’s matchup against the lefty ace from May 2024, and that was when he noticed Duran’s unimpressive stat line to that point of that summer. He brought it to Duran’s attention. “It's a long season,” Duran said, “and I'm terrible at realizing that. I'm always thinking like, ‘Oh, I was good last year, and right now, I'm terrible.’ And when you really break it down, it's about the same. My numbers are scary similar. And it's kind of weird.” Though Duran has made strides in not being so tough on himself when he isn’t performing up to expectations, he admits falling into that trap until recently. |
“I'm just trying to keep it simple and just have some fun,” Duran said. “I mean, I wasn't having fun [earlier]. I was putting too much pressure on myself. But I’ve got to focus on the boys. That's the most important thing. Focus on my teammates. And it shows. I mean we have good results when you focus on the team. And that’s what I'm just trying to focus on right now.” There has also been a mechanical adjustment. Duran has returned to incorporating the leg kick that helped raise his level of play last season. “We all know about the leg kick,” Cora said. “It’s back. It just gives him the freedom to be an athlete. Sometimes it feels like he's rigid -- you know, a little bit tight -- and he cannot get his swing off. Now, he's been able to do that. So little by little, he's getting there. Like I said, if you start comparing seasons -- and we're in that business, right? -- we thought he was actually struggling. And, you know, if we're going to compare, he was struggling last year.” For most of the season, the Red Sox have hovered right around the .500 mark. If Duran can get hot and stay hot, the entire lineup becomes more dangerous. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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CAMPBELL AT 1B COULD SPEED UP MAYER’S DEBUT |
In case you missed it, the ongoing subplot of who will replace Triston Casas at first base the rest of the season added another dimension on Friday, when rookie Kristian Campbell started to partake in workouts at that position with infield instructor José Flores. Campbell has been the primary second baseman for the club so far this season. First base is the only infield position he didn’t play in the Minor Leagues. But given his athleticism and work ethic, it’s not hard to imagine Campbell picking it up in short order and playing there in the near future. If Campbell moves to first, it could open up the opportunity for the Red Sox to call up the club’s No. 2 prospect, Marcelo Mayer, to play second base. Though Mayer, the No. 8 prospect in baseball, is a natural shortstop, he has been getting reps at second also, and they’ve increased lately. Sunday marked Mayer’s second start at second base in the past three games and seventh this season. |
FENWAY GREENS SET TO RETURN |
The Red Sox broke out their much-anticipated new City Connect jerseys against the Braves on May 16, and they were well received. The jerseys aren’t just any shade of green, but the same shade as the fabled Green Monster. The entire jersey is a tribute to Fenway Park. The new unis will make an encore performance at Friday night’s game against the Orioles. The first 7,500 fans who enter that night will receive a Devers City Connect light-up bobblehead. Tickets for that game, and all home games at Fenway Park are available here. Fans who want a Fenway greens jersey can purchase them here. |
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Throughout the season, we are recalling memorable moments from the iconic season the Red Sox had 50 years ago. This week, we look back at a gem from the man best known as “Spaceman”. On a team that included eventual Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice and Carlton Fisk, perhaps the biggest character on the club was Bill Lee. The lefty could also pitch. On May 20, facing the three-time defending World Series champion Athletics, Lee fired a two-hit shutout in Boston’s 7-0 win. Lee had just one strikeout, which would seem almost unthinkable for a shutout in today’s MLB. The game was played in just one hour and 51 minutes. Tony Conigliaro hit his final MLB homer that night -- No. 166 of his career -- against Vida Blue. |
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