Duran graduates to everyday fixture
on a Red sox roster that has been subject to constant shuffling, Jarren Duran has emerged as a constant.
on friday, he was in the team’s lineup for the 38th straight game this year, with 36 of those appearances coming in the leadoff spot. The automatic inking of his name on the scorecard represents a new stage in his development.
A year ago, the outfielder might have been on the bench with a lefthander on the hill (albeit Nationals southpaw Patrick Corbin has considerable reverse splits).
This year, the sox have challenged Duran to produce regardless of a pitcher’s handedness. so far, he’s largely answered the call.
Duran, who went 1 for 5 in friday’s 5-1 home loss, was 1 for 4 against Nationals lefties, leaving him with a .279 average and .404 obP against lefties this season. Though that production has come without power (one extra-base hit off lefties thanks to an approach geared for liners to the middle of the field and opposite field), the sox are thrilled with his ability to contribute every day on both sides of the ball.
“The guy is doing everything. He’s playing well,” said sox manager Alex Cora. “He’s not hitting homers, but he’s getting on base, stealing bases. He’s been good for us putting pressure on the opposition, playing good defense, hanging in there against lefties, posting every day.”
The sox were particularly excited about Duran’s in-game adjustments against Chris Sale, a left-on-left nightmare, in Atlanta on wednesday. Duran struck out twice on a total of six pitches in his first two plate appearances, flailing against sale’s sliders.
A year ago, Duran — notoriously hard on himself — might have found it difficult to adjust. but in Atlanta, Red sox assistant hitting coach Ben Rosenthal suggested Duran look up and away to avoid chasing sliders that would drop below the zone. Duran responded by lining an up-and-away slider to right for a single on the first pitch of his third at-bat.
The sox believe Duran has benefited from a consistent spot in the lineup. The certainty of being back on the field regardless of his performance the previous day has allowed him to better compartmentalize a bad game or at-bat, in the process allowing him to make better game-to-game and in-game adjustments.
“[being hard on himself ] is part of his DNA. He’s learning how to manage that,” said Rosenthal. “He’s turning into a pro — a legitimate, everyday pro. He’s so much better at conversing during the game and talking, even if he gets mad and gets out.
“I tell him every day, ‘Dude, if this is our bad, the [performance] floor has risen.’ It’s outstanding.”
Yet Rosenthal believes Duran’s performance to date — a .264/.333/.409 line — represents a solid baseline, as opposed to a five-tool ceiling in which he taps into more power, with a recent 11game run (.311/.392/.556 with seven extra-base hits) offering a reminder of even greater possibility.
“To me, this is still the floor,” said Rosenthal. “I think we’re getting closer to seeing some of the ceiling.”
Bello on tap Sunday
Righthander Brayan Bello, out since April 21 because of soreness in his right lat, is expected to return from the injured list sunday against the Nationals. while bello’s command was spotty in a rehab start in Double A Portland on Tuesday, he worked comfortably with a 95-97 m.p.h. sinker and felt fine using his full mix over a 52-pitch start that lasted 2„ innings.
“If he’s ready to pitch in the big leagues, he’s pitching in the big leagues. That’s the way I see it. That’s the way we’re talking,” said cora. “He’s trending in the right direction and there’s a good chance he’ll pitch sunday.”
No surgery for Yoshida
Masataka Yoshida received a third opinion on his left thumb strain that agreed with the first two: The designated hitter won’t need surgery to address an issue he incurred on a swing against the cubs on April 28. That said, the 30year-old, hitting .275/.348/.388 this year, won’t be back anytime soon.
“No surgery, so that’s good news,” said cora. “Now we’ve just got to wait. obviously [he’ll get] treatment and see how he feels in a few weeks. we’ll go from there.”
cora said Yoshida, who was wearing a hard plastic guard protecting the base of his thumb, is unlikely to swing a bat for the next few weeks. That reality suggests Yoshida will be sidelined through at least mid-June, and perhaps later.
“I don’t want to put a timeline [on his return],” said cora. “At least we know at one point he’s going to be available and he’s going to be able to help us.”
Whitlock faces friendly fire
Righthander Garrett Whitlock threw three simulated innings of live batting practice against teammates at fenway Park on friday. The team will make a determination saturday about whether his next step will be a minor league rehab outing . . . with the lefthanded corbin on the mound, the sox started Romy Gonzalez at shortstop, allowing them to put Ceddanne Rafaela in center — just the second time in the team’s last 18 games that Rafaela has started at his best defensive position . . . Triston Casas is feeling better in his recovery from torn rib cartilage, but has yet to commence rehab activities.