It is no secret that Jarren Duran has had a meteoric rise with the Boston Red Sox. Going from a failed prospect to one of Boston's best players, he has quickly become a fan favorite throughout Red Sox Nation. And now, after a season that saw him finish in the top 10 for AL MVP voting, he has caught the eye of the entire league.
In a recent player survey, Jarren Duran was named one of the most underrated players in the game, demonstrating his quick rise to prominence. These high regards come after his monstrous 2024 season, which saw him rack up an insane 8.7 r/WAR to go along a slash line of .285/.342/.492 and a 129 wRC+. An XBH machine, the All-Star MVP hit 21 homers and led the league in doubles (48) and triples (13).
Duran also massively improved his defense in 2024. In his 1,421 1/3 innings in the outfield, he amassed an impressive 23 DRS and 11 OAA. This was in stark contrast to 2023, which saw him sport a -6 DRS and 0 OAA. In addition to his glove, Duran showcased his elite arm strength, leading the league with 12 outfield assists.
Red Sox's Jarren Duran named one of the most underrated players in baseball in MLB players survey
The most underrated players in the league, as picked by their peers 🧐 pic.twitter.com/knMVZ7CJmj
— MLB (@MLB) March 12, 2025
Duran will look to continue his dominance in 2025, and with stars like Rafael Devers, Trevor Story, Triston Casas, and the newly acquired Alex Bregman, the Red Sox have built a lineup that is among the league's best.
With such high expectations, Boston is lucky to have leaders like Bregman in its clubhouse. In addition to his winning experience, Bregman can mentor players like Duran in their goals of sustained major league success.
Of course, this is not to say that Duran has to put up another 8 WAR season, but it's clear that the team (and the league) have high expectations for him. With 2024 being his first full MLB season, Bregman's leadership should be a real benefit to him.
Regardless, the future is bright for the Red Sox, and if Duran continues to grow as a five-tool player, he will become one of the league's best, not just the most underrated.