Jarren Duran won the All-Star Game MVP on Tuesday and became just the fifth Red Sox player ever to receive the award.
Duran’s two-run homer in the fifth inning put the American League ahead 5-3. The AL won by that score.
Duran, a first-time All-Star, joined J.D. Drew (2008), Pedro Martinez (1999), Roger Clemens (1986) and Carl Yastrzemski (1970) as the only players in Red Sox history to win an All-Star Game MVP.
The 27-year-old center fielder connected on an 86 mph splitter from Reds’ Hunter Greene and sent it 413 feet to right-center field. It left his bat at 106.8 mph. He became just the 14th Red Sox player to homer in an All-Star Game and the first since Adrián González did it in 2011.
It was Duran’s first at-bat. He had just entered in the top of the fifth inning as a defensive replacement in center field for Yankees’ Aaron Judge. He remained in for the rest of the game and went 1-for-2.
Duran has overcome struggles on the field as well as anxiety and depression off the field to become one of the game’s top outfielders.
He became the first American League player ever to have 100 hits, 20 steals, 10 triples and 10 homers before the All-Star break.
His turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. He batted just .219 with a .269 on-base percentage, .354 slugging percentage and .622 OPS in 91 games (335 plate appearances) in 2021-22 combined.
Duran is on pace to start all 162 games for the Red Sox this season. The Red Sox feel like him doing so will set an example for the organization’s top prospects (such as Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel and Kristian Campbell) who will start to make their way to the majors within the next year. Manager Alex Cora wants Duran to be the leader.
“As a group, we need somebody that people look up to. Who better than your leadoff guy that plays every day?” Cora said June 22.
Red Sox All-Star Game MVPs:
- Jarren Duran (2024)
- J.D. Drew (2008)
- Pedro Martinez (1999)
- Roger Clemens (1986)
- Carl Yastrzemski (1970)
Red Sox players to homer in the All-Star Game:
- Adrian Gonzalez (2011)
- J.D. Drew (2008)
- Manny Ramirez (2004)
- David Ortiz (2004)
- Wade Boggs (1989)
- Jim Rice (1983)
- Fred Lynn (1976, 1979, 1980)
- George Scott (1977)
- Carl Yastrzemski (1975)
- Pete Runnels (1962)
- Frank Malzone (1959)
- Ted Williams (1941, 1946, 1956)
- Bobby Doerr (1943)
