Former Boston Red Sox pitcher and eight-time All-Star is back at the Midsummer Classic with baseball's best players.
Sale is pitching his best season in years and owns the National League's lowest ERA at the All-Star break. He's logged a 2.70 ERA over 110 innings, the most he's thrown since 2019, with his new club, the Atlanta Braves.
Sale admired all the talent at Globe Life Field during MLB's media day before the Home Run Derby kicked off the week's festivities. His praise for a former Red Sox teammate stood out.
" Duran, he might be my favorite All-Star here, honestly," Sale said, reported by Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. "What that guy can do on a baseball field is incredible. He's in scoring position at first base."
Chris Sale calls his former Red Sox teammate Jarren Duran his "favorite All-Star"
"You look around and you got Judge, Soto, Gunnar... it's really eye-opening to see all these studs."@RedSox outfielder and first-time All-Star Jarren Duran talks about savoring the moment before being joined by former teammate and @Braves All-Star Chris Sale. pic.twitter.com/FOHWmaJDlc
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 15, 2024
Sale crashed Duran's MLB Network interview to reunite and congratulate him. The two players spoke with former pitcher Jake Peavy, who had a similar mentor role to Sale as he does to Duran.
"There's not one ounce of effort he leaves anywhere," Sale continued about Duran. "I know how hard he had to work to get here and I know what he went through to get to this place. I can't stop smiling when I think about that."
Duran spoke about his mental health journey during the interview and shared that he looked to Sale as an advisor in tough times. Boston fans may not have the kindest feelings toward Sale since his trade in December, but Duran credits his mentorship as part of his journey through the big leagues.
Sale will not play in this year's game at Globe Life Field, so fans unfortunately won't see him and Duran face each other. But Sox fans and Sale will still see the result of Duran's hard work when he takes the field in Arlington, Texas with the rest of the American League's best.