Jarren Duran confidence has been a major difference maker this season
Duran: 'Every time I’ve gone up there, I felt like I’ve done something good'
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran has been a pleasant surprise at the plate this season. Duran who has played 10 games with Boston this season looks like a completely different hitter than he was last season.
The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .297 with 11 hits, three doubles, two triples, two RBIs and has two stolen bases. His speed element brings a completely different dynamic to the Red Sox lineup.
"His speed changes the game," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Duran. "That’s what we’re looking for. It’s a weapon, and it was fun to watch him run the bases."
During the offseason, Duran focused on getting his head in the right place so he could be ready for the current season. Physically, Duran has the tools to be successful at the plate in the in the field.
“I played tight,” he said prior to the season to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I didn’t play loose. These guys want me to steal, then if they get a flare or something, I score. I had all this negative thought like, ‘I don’t want to steal and get out, then they hit a ball in the gap and I score for them or score for the team.’
“That was (something) that blocked me mentally to not play the way I wanted to play.”
Between changing his mental outlook, he also changed his approach at the plate and batting stance. Both of which seem to be helping him this go around with Boston. Duran’s focus is on how he can help the team.
“Um, you know when you go up you’re just trying to help the team, and you know I felt like I helped them. If I had gone up there and struggled, I would have been alright crap, I would have been more in a negative mindset. But I went up there and I felt like I helped them and I did what I needed to do and I came back and it’s like ok well, every time I’ve gone up there, I felt like I’ve done something good,” said Duran to Locked on Red Sox Podcast host Jake Ignaszewaki.
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