MLB hands down Jarren Duran punishment as Boston mayor rumors debunked

UPDATE: The Boston Mayor's office denied requesting a meeting with the Red Sox over Duran's incident Sunday.

In wake of Jarren Duran's actions that have been the talk of the baseball landscape over the last 18 hours, the Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball have agreed on a punishment for the 2024 All-Star Game MVP.

Duran was suspended for two games, starting Monday night against the Texas Rangers, for directing a homophobic slur at a fan who was heckling him behind the plate. Regardless of context, Duran's choice of words was the utmost version of unacceptable.

What was even more concerning was his callous disregard for the setting. What he yelled could be heard by ... a lot of people. The catcher. The pitcher. The home plate umpire. The players and coaches atop the dugout. The many fans sitting right behind the plate. And, of course, the people at home. When you're in the batter's box, that's when the lights are brightest and the mics are hot.

That's why Duran's scripted apology read hollow after the fact (especially since he wore a childish and patently ridiculous shirt to the podium while addressing the incident). If that word flew off his tongue without a second thought and he decided to seemingly act as if this should all blow over rather quickly, how was anybody going to believe that he was truly remorseful?

Some fans are acting as if this is nothing. Some are appalled by the intense reaction to it all. But the fact of the matter is Duran is a 27-year-old professional. This is not a case of sleuthing fans unearthing his tweets back when he was 14.

MLB hands down Jarren Duran punishment as Boston mayor requests meeting with Red Sox

Duran's apology, whether genuine or not, was never going to be the end of this. When you're caught on live television saying or doing something that creates a jarring response, it's never that simple.

We're already seeing the effects of his actions in real time. According to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, Boston mayor Michelle Wu has "requested a meeting with the Red Sox regarding Duran's incident." It's unclear what such a meeting might yield, but the most influential political figure in the city feels the need to get involved on some level.

Some fans are already scoffing at that. "Well, what's Michelle Wu going to do?!" Well, for starters, she definitely might have some impact as a mayor who has championed progressive issues since being elected mayor! That might help, wouldn't it?

Nonetheless, those who are already "sick" of hearing about this better brace themselves because it's struck a cord with the highest-ranking office in the city. Duran may have to make more amends beyond reading a PR message off a piece of paper.