On May 19 against Kansas City, the Boston Red Sox saw something they've needed all season, which even evaded them last year — a prime, 2024-like Jarren Duran.
Duran went 2-for-3 (double, home run) with two walks, three RBI and two stellar defensive plays in left field to lead the Red Sox to a 7-1 win over the Royals. Duran had this incredible night even after he was thrown out on the base paths trying to extend a long Kauffman Stadium double into a triple, which would've made his night in Kansas City even more wild.
Red Sox fans have waited nearly two months for a breakout from Duran. Boston didn't add enough offense to its roster over the offseason (although Willson Contreras has been great) because it expected a veteran performance from Duran and others. Finally, Duran answered the call.
The outfielder is still batting .189/.262/.331 over 43 games on the season. Shockingly, he only has nine doubles so far — Sox fans are used to seeing him stretch a single into a double a few times a week, but he's lagged through the first quarter of the season.
Red Sox fans are getting excited (maybe too excited) after 2024-like Jarren Duran performance against Royals
Things may finally be starting to look up for Duran, as he has five hits, three of them doubles, and four walks in his last four games. The Red Sox need Duran to sustain this pace, or something close to it, to be their best, but no Red Sox player this season has delivered an all-around performance like that long-term. Duran has been one of the worst qualified hitters in baseball all season and that probably won't change in a single evening. The night's performance certainly hasn't raised his trade value enough to force a move.
The Red Sox mustered seven runs, the most they've scored since May 5, but the Royals didn't exactly put their best foot forward on the mound. Kansas City pitched a bullpen game while its relievers have a 4.48 ERA on the season, which ranks 22nd in the league. The contributions from Duran, Willson Contreras (2-for-5, three RBI) and even Isiah Kiner-Falefa (3-for-3, run) were encouraging, but delivering against better pitching has been exceedingly difficult for Boston.
It was huge to see what a prime Duran could do for the Sox, though. It's too early to get over excited that the tides may be changing for some of the Red Sox's slumping bats, but hopefully Duran's showing against the Royals serves as a confidence boost for himself and the rest of his team.
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