Red Sox Spring Training News: Jarren Duran is the show of the future
While it is way too soon to utter the words “Mookie Betts who?,” the Boston Red Sox have a future star arising in one Jarren Duran.
If there was a reason why Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom made head scratching moves like trading Betts and Andrew Benintendi and letting Jackie Bradley Jr. walk, we are seeing a glimpse of that reason in Spring Training.
Although he won’t start the season on the big-league club, Duran is showing the organization and fans that he may be ready to be the show now rather than later.
As the Red Sox No. 4 ranked prospect, the team’s future center fielder has sparked major excitement in the Grapefruit League with the highlight coming Friday, when the young prospect went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base while batting second in the order.
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Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran raising eyebrows
If that doesn’t make Red Sox manager Alex Cora widen his eyes, it has certainly catered to the expectations of Bloom who has glimmered about the Duran even before his performance this spring.
"“He has the physical ability to be not just a good player but a great player,” Bloom said during an interview with MBL Network Radio on Sirius XM, via MLB.com. “And that stand out every time he takes the field. He’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s fast and the athleticism is there. He reworked his swing to where now that strength can play in driving the baseball.”"
The crazy fact about Duran is that he is still developing as an outfielder which is a reason, he is starting the season in the minor leagues despite what he has shown in Grapefruit League games.
No, there is no Benintendi or Betts or Bradley Jr. in the outfield, but the Red Sox have players who are expected to fill those roles this season like Alex Verdugo, Franchy Cordero and Hunter Renfroe to man the outfield until Duran is ready.
They also have players like Kike Hernandez, Marwin Gonzalez and Michael Chavis who can also play the outfield, along with DH J.D. Martinez.
So, in that aspect the team is pretty set and there is no reason to rush a player like Jarren Duran, but the temptation has to be there with the level of excitement he does provide at the plate on the bases and in the outfield.
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As Bloom went on to say in his interview, “all the skills are there [for Duran] to be not just a good outfielder but a great outfielder.”
Red Sox fans are certainly all for that, especially watching Mookie Betts win championships in Dodger blue.
It’s time for a new show and Jarren Duran is ready to star sooner rather than later.