Jarren Duran Makes MLB Debut with Red Sox
7/17/2021 6:25:00 PM | Baseball
Dirtbag alum, Jarren Duran, became the 52nd Dirtbag to make their major league debut on Saturday.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Jarren Duran (2016-18) made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. He becomes the 52nd Dirtbag to reach the bigs and the first since Jeff McNeil debuted in 2018.
Ranked as the number three prospect in the Red Sox organization, Duran has been red hot during the 2021 season posting a .926 OPS. In 189 at-bats, he has recorded 51 hits, 15 of which have left the yard, to go along with 37 runs and 32 RBI.
In his three seasons in the minor leagues, he proved to be a five-tool threat slashing .312/.374/.468 with 23 home runs, 102 RBI, and 82 stolen bases.
Duran also received an invite to play in the WBSC Olympic Qualifiers at the beginning of June. Serving as the starting center fielder for Team USA, he slashed .368/.400/.526 helping the red, white, and blue qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo later this month.
A native of Buena Park, Duran joined Long Beach State after a phenomenal career at Cypress High School. He served as the starting second baseman for his three seasons before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft and converted into an outfielder.
As a Dirtbag, he hit to a .294 average in 169 career games. His best season was his sophomore year, hitting .308 with career-bests in hits (69), extra-base hits (14), runs scored (47), RBI (29), slugging percentage (.393), and stolen bases (19) helping the Dirtbags to a Super Regional appearance.
He followed up his tremendous sophomore year with a great junior season that saw him post a .380 on-base percentage with a pair of homers and 17 stolen bases. His 49 career steals ranks tied for fourth-most in program history.
Duran now joins a group of active LBSU big leaguers that features Evan Longoria, Bryan Shaw, Matt Duffy, Garrett Hampson, and Jeff McNeil.
The Red Sox are opening up the second half of the MLB season in New York with a four-game series against the Yankees.
