Jarren Duran on constantly getting better, ‘I’m never satisfied’
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is all but a lock for the 2024 Opening Day roster, but don’t tell him that.
“Don’t say that,” said Duran to a reporter prior to the Sox game Friday night from Fenway Park, “because you never know if you have a spot or not. You can’t go into the spring thinking you have a spot. That’s when you get satisfied. You’ve got to go in like, ‘I’ve got to earn my spot’ every time. That’s just my mentality.”
Duran enjoyed a strong 2023 campaign where he hit .295 with eight homers, 34 doubles and an .828 OPS in 102 games before suffering a season-ending toe injury versus the Yankees on Aug. 20.
The 27-year-old had season ending surgery on his left toe but is expected to make a full recovery for spring training.
Duran has entered the last three spring trainings trying to make the Red Sox 26-man roster. The speedy outfielder intends to try and earn a spot on the roster next season.
“I’m never satisfied,” he said on Friday. “Honestly, (I want to) just get better at every part of my game. It’s baseball. The second you get satisfied, we all know this game will punch you in the mouth. You’re 0-for-8 with eight punchies. I’ll just work on all aspects. Outfield defense, hitting, running, working on getting healthy. It’s just a daily grind.
“I have to earn my creed here. Just because I had one good year... guys have been doing this for years. I can’t go in there thinking, ‘I did good, I deserve a spot.’ I’m gonna keep working my butt off like I don’t have a spot. That’s how I work.”
Duran had a strong spring training, but ultimately was assigned to Triple-A Worcester following participating in the World Baseball Classic for Team Mexico.
The Red Sox consider Duran to be an important piece as they head into 2024.
“He’s important for us,” Alex Cora said to reporters, including MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “There’s a reason he was still in the organization when the season started. There’s a reason we were patient. There’s a reason he got called up right away when (Adam Duvall) went down.
“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish in the future, too.”
Boston will have a full outfield heading into 2024, Duran, Masataka Yoshida, Alex Verdugo and Rob Refsnyder are all under contract. Outfielder prospects Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela will both be strong candidates to make the roster.
The Red Sox could deal from their outfield surplus during the winter and try and improve their starting pitching. The club could also add to the mix from the outside or re-sign impending free agent Adam Duvall.
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