Boston Red Sox Minors: 2019 will be the year of Jarren Duran

The Boston Red Sox have plenty of prospects that the following season could be very good to. Just exactly who will make it their year in 2019 though?

Jarren Duran was a seventh-round pick for the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 MLB draft. That didn’t stop him from tearing down the house in both Short-A and Full-A last season.

In 67 games between the two levels, Duran’s numbers are nothing short of a video game. The left-handed hitter slashed .357/.394/.516 with 14 doubles and three home runs, as well as an absurd 11 triples. The run production was there with 35 RBI and 52 runs scored, and he was a threat on the base paths with 24 steals.

It all adds up to an incredible all-around threat in his first year in the minors. Now, don’t expect home run power from Duran. In over 600 Collegiate at-bats he hit just three and expecting even 10 would be a stretch.

He doesn’t need home runs to be effective though. Duran gets the ball to gaps, and with his speed that’s lethal. Doubles and triples will always be part of his game. When he finds a way to first base, don’t expect him there for long either with that game-changing speed.

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Now, the 22-year-old is ready to make 2019 his year.

Last season, Duran appeared in right and center, as well as second base. He looked great in all three spots with his speed playing well in the outfield but looked most natural at second. No matter where Duran plays, good things will happen. In the outfield, he’ll have the chance to get more comfortable and acclimated to the spot. Meanwhile, at second base he’ll have a chance to flash that fantastic defensive potential.

Duran was 24-for-34 on steal attempts in 2018. Now that he’s had a little time in the minors, those numbers will only go up. Speed is his best tool and grades as elite (it’s also something the Red Sox should be coveting at the moment). With experience from last year and a full season to do damage in 2019, he should see a spike in steals. Not only should he steal more bags, but the percentage should rise as he learns more discipline and better baserunning instincts.

Finally, there’s the bat. Duran burst onto the scene last year and never really slowed down. Expecting a .367 average from him this season is ridiculous though. He’ll have more at-bats and will be playing harder competition. That being said, Duran’s 2018 was proof that he can put the ball in play. With his speed, that’s all he needs to do to make things happen.

Jarren Duran was a surprise to many with just how fantastic he was in 2018. A seventh-round pick isn’t supposed to be that good right away. Somehow, he’s still flown under the radar of many though. That should stop this year as he’s given more of a spotlight.

Full-A or Advanced-A will be his starting ground this year. A move to Double-A during the season is definitely a strong possibility. The crazy part is, it might not stop there. With three years of Collegiate ball under his belt, he’s got a lot of experience. If he goes the route of dominance once again, the Red Sox might decide to move him up even further.

The Boston Red Sox have quite a few prospects with eye-popping power. Not many are matching the speed of Jarren Duran though, and it’s going to be part of a formula that makes 2019 his year.