Jarren Duran is entering a critical season in his career
With the 2023 campaign only months away, Jarren Duran is looking to turn the page on his second season in the majors. Duran struggled at the plate and in the field in 2022. The Long Beach State product had a few misplays at home and on the road that made headlines. As he looks to start fresh, he is entering a critical point in his career.
Through his first 91 games in the majors, Duran has posted a .219 batting average and struck out 103 times. In that span, the California native has only forced 18 walks. Despite his struggles, the Red Sox haven't given up on him, and Alex Cora recently gave positive input on the young outfielder.
“He’s still dynamic, still young, still learning, " Cora told the Boston media earlier this week.
While his errors defensively were well documented, one area Duran showed upside in was his impact on the bases. He recorded seven stolen bases and was only caught stealing once. So far in his major league career, he has nine stolen bases and has only been caught stealing twice. Given how the lineup is currently constructed, that speed will be critical for the Red Sox.
In 2023, Duran will be looking to prove why he should be in the lineup. He posted a .302 batting average in the minors and showed some power with 126 extra-base hits. The 26-year-old hasn't been that player in the majors and has often seemed overmatched at the plate. The former seventh-round pick is at his best when he is getting on base and causing issues with his speed.
As Opening Day draws closer, Duran's role will become clearer. He is still trying to carve out a consistent playing time and his performance last season created more questions than answers. However, he can still be a valuable piece in a Red Sox lineup that will be without Trevor Story for the foreseeable future.
How Duran performs in the coming months could determine his future in Boston. He hit .221 last season during his longest stint in the majors but showed flashes of power with 20 extra-base hits. Regardless of how the offseason plays out, he will enter spring training looking to turn his career around.
Less than three years ago, he was one of the Red Sox’s most talked-about prospects for a good reason. He will need to prove that he can be that player again, with Ceddanne Rafaela and Miguel Bleis getting closer to the majors.
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