Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is known for his openness with fans about his mental health. In the Red Sox's upcoming Netflix documentary series, Duran shared more about the extent of his troubles than ever before.
Duran wasn't always an MVP-caliber outfielder and didn't project to be one until 2023 at the earliest. His ascent to the major leagues, and eventually the top of his game, was grueling, especially in a city as passionate as Boston. The entirety of episode four of Boston's upcoming Netflix documentary series, “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox," is dedicated to Duran's mental health story. In it, he shared about a time he attempted suicide around 2022.
"I got to a point where I was sitting in my room, I had my rifle and I had a bullet and I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened. So, to this day, I think God just didn’t let me take my own life because I seriously don’t know why it didn’t go off," Duran said.
The Netflix docuseries profiling Boston's 2024 season will be released on April 8. All quotes from the episode "Still Alive," centering on Duran's mental health journey are from Ian Browne of MLB.com. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic also received an advanced viewing of the series.
Jarren Duran opens up about mental health in upcoming Red Sox, Netflix docuseries
Jarren Duran reveals a suicide attempt in upcoming Netflix Red Sox documentary set to air on Tuesday. https://t.co/d7zM57r11h
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) April 7, 2025
Duran explained that he reached the point of attempted suicide through negative self-talk and that he had been "hearing it from fans." In a world where people are discouraged from discussing their mental health struggles, the Red Sox try to be a beacon of help to their players.
"Jarren’s decision to share his story is an act of courage that reaches far beyond baseball,” team CEO and president Sam Kennedy said. “By opening up, he’s showing others who may be struggling that they’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t just OK, it’s essential.
"Every member of this organization continues to stand with him. He has our deepest admiration, he’s always had our full support and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.”
Former Red Sox reliever Chris Martin has also been open about his experiences with anxiety. He allowed Boston to list anxiety as a reason for an injured list stint last season, and he was both praised and criticized for it across social media.
Duran's story is a reminder that you never know what someone is going through in their personal life. No one deserves to be shamed or critiqued for mental health struggles, and baseball is just a game — no on-field outcome is worth someone's happiness or life. Red Sox fans, among many others in MLB and across sports, could stand to remember that.
Hopefully, Duran's bravery and openness inspire others to ask for help if they need it. There should be no shame in mental health care.