MIAMI — Jarren Duran continued his power surge for the Red Sox in Tuesday’s win, and in the process, made American League history.
With an eighth-inning homer that punctuated an 8-3 Red Sox victory over the Marlins, Duran recorded his 100th hit and 10th homer of the season. According to the team, he’s the first American League play ever to have 100 hits, 20 steals, 10 triples and 10 homers before the All-Star break. José Reyes is the only player to ever accomplish the feat, having done it with the Mets in 2008.
Just two weeks ago, it didn’t seem likely Duran would reach double-digit homers in the first half of the season. Through May, he had just three dingers, and as of June 18, just five. But in the last 10 games, he has left the yard five times and is close to eclipsing his career total of 13.
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Duran has homered in each of Boston’s last three games, a product of an approach at the plate that has produced great results in different fashions all season.
“He’s not trying to hit homers,” said manager Alex Cora. “He’s trying to hit the ball hard to left-center then able to catch it out front. That’s the difference between Jarren now and Jarren in 2020, 2021. In those two years, it was a show in BP hitting the ball in the air to the pull side. Now, he has learned how to handle the at-bat, how to hit the ball hard and be on time. This is a very dangerous hitter right now.”
When Duran came to the plate to face J.T. Chargois with two outs in the eighth, he did so having gone 0-for-3 with a walk in his first three plate appearances of the night. With a 2-2 count, Chargois left a sinker over the plate and Duran didn’t miss it, sending it 433 feet into the stands at loanDepot Park. It was a no-doubter for a player who, with a line-drive approach, is always thinking two bases out of the batter’s box.
“It’s always fun to hit a homer,” Duran said. “You don’t have to sprint as hard and you can jog around the bases. It’s always a good feeling being able to stay with your process, putting a good swing on the ball. If it happens to be a homer, it’s always a positive.”
“I’m not trying to do anything different. Just trying to get on base and cause havoc. I’m just putting a good swing on the ball and it just happens to go out. I’m sprinting around first base hoping it hits off the wall or something.”
Duran has started all 84 games for the Red Sox so far this season and has consistently produced from the leadoff spot. He leads the majors in triples, is tied for the AL in doubles and is one of just five players — along with Luis Arraez, Bobby Witt Jr., José Altuve and Shohei Ohtani — to have 100 hits already. After hitting safely in 18 of 19 games, he’s hitting .287 with a .351 on-base percentage and an .848 OPS.
Duran seems more likely than not to be named a reserve on the AL roster for next month’s All-Star Game in Texas. That he’s added power to an impressive package of tools has only helped his chances.
“It’s nothing different,” said Cora. “He’s trying to hit the ball to left-center and when he catches it out front, he’s going to hit it in the air to the pull side and hit homers.”
