The Heat Is On
While everyone in Fenway is watching Roman Anthony get ready to run, the real story is happening right now with Jarren Duran. The speedster is finally hitting the ball like we know he can. Over the last 12 games, Duran slashed .300/.333/.525 with an .858 OPS. He hit two home runs, drove in five runs, and scored eight times. That is not a fluke. That is a player finding his groove when the team needs it most.
For most of this season, Duran has struggled to get on base. His overall numbers sit at a sad .209 batting average and .633 OPS. If the season ended today, those would be career worsts. But the last two weeks tell a different story. As reported by Patrick McAvoy for Sports Illustrated, this recent surge is exactly what the rest of the American League should fear.
A Lineup Without Holes
That is what happens if Duran keeps this up. Right now, he bats near the bottom, usually seventh or eighth. Roman Anthony’s imminent return, combined with Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras dominating the lineup, rapidly alters the calculation. We are talking about a rotation of Duran, Nick Sogard, and Trevor Story at the end of the order. That is a nightmare for opposing pitchers.
Duran has already shown he can play great defense. He has 18 homers, 66 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 126 games. The only issue was the strikeouts and the low on-base rate. Now that the hitting is clicking, the defense is solid, and the speed is there, the Red Sox have a complete player. The only thing left to worry about is who sits on the bench.
The Roster Battle
With Anthony coming back, the team has a tough choice to make. According to Over the Monster, Chad Tracy has hinted that Mickey Gasper might be the one to lose his spot. Gasper has been incredible, hitting .476 with 5 home runs in just 8 games. But Duran is the starter, and he is finally playing like one. If Duran stays hot, he locks down that left field job against right-handed pitchers.
