Jarren Duran Made This Impression On 2004 Red Sox Champion

Jarren Duran keeps making plays left and right for the Boston Red Sox.

He ignited the Boston lineup throughout the first half of the season and added to his trophy case on Tuesday when he became the fifth Red Sox player to win All-Star MVP honors.

Duran helped the Red Sox get out to a 9-3 start in July that began with a sweep in Miami over the Marlins. The speedy Boston outfielder homered, stole a base and threw out a key baserunner at home plate during that series. Duran's play spoke volumes about his season and stood out to a 2004 World Series champion with the Red Sox.

"I love that they're young," Marlins assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller told NESN.com. "I love that they're energetic. I love the style that they play and how they represent the game. That center fielder Duran and how hard he plays. The energy he brings is what you want. That's the brand of Red Sox baseball that wants to kick your ass on a nightly basis."

That assessment from Mueller certainly reflects the mindset that Alex Cora instilled in his club to start their hot streak after Boston earned a series win over the Philadelphia Phillies in June.

Boston prepares to open the unofficial second half of the season with Duran leading a youth movement with postseason aspirations.