Alex Cora has a leadoff man in mind for his team heading into 2024
Spring training has only just begun, pitchers and catchers have reported, a handful of position players are also in camp. With camp just getting underway it hasn’t stopped manager Alex Cora from having a good idea who his leadoff hitter will be on Opening Day.
Cora told reporters on Friday that he expects outfielder Jarren Duran to be the club’s primary leadoff man this season. This is assuming Duran is healthy and not traded before Opening Day in Seattle.
Duran has been the subject of trade rumors the last few weeks.
“When Jarren was leadoff guy for us, we were probably one of the best offenses in the big leagues,” Cora said. “Obviously, we need him healthy, out there every day. If he’s healthy, that’s my guy.”
Duran spent 35 games this past season as the club’s leadoff man, second to former Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo. From June 8 through Aug. 9, Duran was electric as the club’s table setter. He hit .331 with five homers, 17 doubles and owned a .933 OPS. For the full season as a leadoff hitter, he hit .319 with an .923 OPS.
When the speedy Duran got on base, he stole 24 bases in 26 attempts.
Duran enters the spring fully healthy after he underwent surgery on his toe in August. He will join fellow outfielders Tyler O’Neill, Masataka Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Rob Refsnyder for playing time. Yoshida is expected to see his fair share of at-bats as the team’s designated hitter.
“We know (Duran) can play center. He made some strides last year,” Cora said. “It all depends on where we go. He can play center and he can play left.
“Everything goes by decisions here. When we make decisions, then we go with the best alignment out there.”
Trading Duran makes little sense in the terms of how the roster is currently built. There is no clear cut leadoff hitter with the speed dynamic Duran brings to the table on a daily basis. Rafaela could be a future candidate to leadoff, but he is still early on in his big league development.
“Matchups will dictate that and the roster will dictate that,” Cora said. “As of now, for me, if Jarren is healthy, he’s our leadoff guy.”
