Duran shows off his power
Sox’ center field prospect has quick bat, speed to burn
BRADENTON, FLA. — Shortcuts don’t work in baseball. You can’t put a prospect’s tools in a microwave and speed up the development. But you can close your eyes, imagine the future, and like what you think you’re going to see.
The more Red Sox interim manager Ron Roenicke sees of fleet centerfielder Jarren Duran, the more he likes his future.
Talking about Duran before Wednesday’s exhibition game at Lecom Park, Roenicke even projected something the 2018 seventhround draft choice has not yet shown much of in the minor leagues.
“I would think down the road he’s going to have some power,” Roenicke said. “As strong as he is and as quick as he can swing, I would think so.”
It didn’t take long for that prediction to take on some life. With the wind blowing out, the lefthanded-hitting Duran took a Mitch Keller fastball the other way for a two-run home run in the second inning, which sent the Red Sox on their way to a 6-3 win over the Pirates in a game shortened to seven innings by a quick burst of rain.
A non-roster invitee, Duran is opening eyes with his speed and bat in the early days of Grapefruit League play. He’s 5-for-8 with a triple, a home run and has struck out once.
“Yeah, how about that,” Roenicke said when reminded of his power forecast. “He’s just got those quick-twitch fibers that you can’t teach. He’s born with it. If he starts squaring up balls, like I said, he is stronger this year than he was last year. He’s probably going to continue to get stronger for the next couple of years. And then you don’t know. I don’t know if that means he’s a home run hitter or if he’s a gap hitter. I don’t know what that means, but I know you get stronger and you have that kind of bat speed, it can be scary.”
Duran, 23, played second base at Long Beach State and didn’t get converted to the outfield until midway through his first professional season. If he progresses well this season, he could be in center field for the Red Sox as soon as next season in the event impending free agent Jackie Bradley Jr. signs elsewhere.
“I don’t really like to set goals because if I feel like if I don’t reach it, it’s like I failed,” Duran said. “I don’t want to put pressure on myself, like, ‘I have to do this this year.’ I think about playing good and playing loose and having fun each day and I’ll get here when I get here. When it’s my time, it’s my time. When they think I’m ready, I’m ready. It’s in their hands, so I’m going to just keep doing what I’m doing.”
Defensively, Duran hasn’t caught up to more experienced outfielders just yet.
“He’s got a ways to go,” Roenicke said of Duran learning the nuances of playing the outfield.
Roenicke shared the defensive scouting report on Duran that he received from the Sox Double-A manager, Joe Oliver.
“He’s great going to the corners and back in the gaps, great going side-to-side, really good coming in, it’s that ball going back,” Roencke said. “It takes a long time to get comfortable where you can turn your back and just run. … So he still needs to learn that part of it, but once he gets that part, I mean, you’re going to see a tremendous outfielder.”
If he hits enough to develop into an every day center fielder, Duran’s speed has the potential to make him a fan favorite. He remembers the last person to beat him in a foot race.
“My dad,” he said.
Duran has struck out 176 times and hit eight home runs in 802 at bats in the minors.
“I think it’s kind of learning the swing, and learning the strike zone, and trying to figure out what kind of hitter’s he’s going to be,” Roenicke said before the game of the strikeout totals. “He’s a lot stronger this year than he was last year, so I don’t know, maybe he starts driving balls more, which would be great with his speed to hit balls in the gaps, and just watch him run.”
Roenicke has been far from the only one buzzing about Duran this week.
“Hell of a ballplayer,” said second baseman Michael Chavis, who tagged a home run that flew over the left field fence in a blink. “I don’t remember who I was talking to in the dugout, but I said I would think he’s one of the best minor league players I’ve seen. He’s special. Fun ballplayer. Good personality. One thing that’s interesting is he’s got pop, but you can’t teach that speed. That’s what makes him a special player, and he’s fun to watch.”
How quickly that speed lands him in the majors has become an interesting development to track.